“Very Special” by Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus & Max Roach

Duke Ellington is considered one of the most iconic musicians ever to walk this planet. Little more can be said about his contributions to jazz, composition and recorded music. This wasn’t always the case. Throughout the 1950’s Ellington was considered “old-fashioned” and out of favor with the press and the times. By 1955 he didn’t have a consistent record label to support him and was struggling to find work. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he was then free from contract restraints and could perform and record with old rivals and upcoming improvisational visionaries. Combine this with a timely appearance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, and Mr. Ellington was now en vogue again. 

Money Jungle is a great example of his resurgence as a contemporary name in Jazz circles. Recorded in 1962 it also features two outstanding players of that era in Charles Mingus and Max Roach. Their waggishness can be heard throughout the album, and they pushed Ellington into new stylistic territory.
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“Very Special” is a wonderful track that showcases each of their talents and is my favorite on the record. At 2:00- 2:45 you can hear the twenty-three-ish year age gap between Duke and his rhythm section, and yet it works so well, especially when you know it was recorded in one take without rehearsal.