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In 1999-2000, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was given the chance to make a studio recording on the occasion of Duke Ellington's 100th birthday. For this duo session, NHØP chose Mulgrew Miller, whom he had heard, but never played with. Both were at the height of their careers, giants in their own right, and with totally different backgrounds. NHØP was born into the Danish folk high-school milieu that promoted freedom of thought and had a prolific song tradition. Growing up as the child of plantation workers in Greenwood, Mississippi, Mulgrew had his roots in gospel music and the racially divided USA of the 1960s. A Duke Ellington connoisseur, he had played with the Ellington Orchestra under direction of Mercer Ellington. Recorded live, all the tracks on this never before released concert remain in the same order as the two masters chose that evening at the North Sea Jazz Festival. They are at the peak of their abilities, combining new version of the Ellington songs they had previously recorded together with jazz standards. Niels-Henning and Mulgrew have sadly passed away, but are remembered as intelligent and insightful musicians on and off stage, but also as unconditionally generous mentors and influences for generations of musicians after themselves. Tracks CD1 01. Whisper Not (Benny Golson) 02. Sophisticated Lady (Duke Ellington) 03. Mood Indigo (Barney Bigard/Duke Ellington) 04. All The Things You Are (Jerome Kern) 05. Take The A Train (Billy Strayhorn) Track CD2 01. I’m Old Fashioned (Jerome Kern) 02. In My Solitude (Duke Ellington) 03. Autumn Leave (Jacques Prévert/Joseph Kosma) 04. Caravan (Duke Ellington/Juan Tizol) MULGREW MILLER piano NIELS-HENNING ØRSTED PEDERSEN bass Recorded live by Dutch National Radio on July 15, 2000, at the North Sea Jazz Festival Storyville – 1038444 (Denmark)
