Duke Ellington - Four symphonic works

McCoy Tyner has a CD on Impulse label a few years back with jazz/symphonic interpretations of several Burt Bacharach tunes. Its a very interesting listen though I do not think it was exceptionally well received by critics/purists.

[url]http://www.amazon.com/What-World-Needs-Now-Bacharach/dp/B000003N8M[/url]

There is also this (I have the original lp) which is a very unusual concoction:

[url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V6ONKQ/ref=dm_sp_alb[/url]

Others I can recommend more on the rock/jazz/classical fusion front are "The Snow Goose" by Camel [url]http://www.amazon.com/Snow-Goose-Camel/dp/B00005V1B2[/url] and "Caravan and the new Symphonia" by Caravan [url]http://www.amazon.com/Caravan-New-Symphonia/dp/B00005A46V[/url].

If you can find it.....the "Symphonic Ellington"-issued first on Reprise,reissued on Discovery and re-reissued on the complete Ellington on Reprise Mosaic collection.Is the great Ellington album that was recorded by him,in his lifetime.The pieces are "Night creature" 'Harlem" "Non-violent integration" and "La Scala"-all these were collaborations with Symphony orchestras in Paris,Milan,Hamburg and Stockholm.These were recorded in 1963 while on tour in Europe.Of course,Duke did not need a symphonic orchestra with his amazing own orchestra so there are very few collaborations.Beware of Classical/Jazz fusion projects,they rarely turn out well and have since ended up on the musical junkpile.Check out "THE FAR EAST SUITE" by Ellington-late 60's Rca Victor.The magic of the annotated and improvised abound there!

Thanks guys. I have just recently really discovered all the talent of Duke Ellington ...thanks to Audiogon and I am thrilled ! I have recently purchased the following: The Ellington Suites, Ellington Indigos, Side by Side, Back to Back and Piano in the Backround. Truly a genius ! I will soon check out The Far East Suite.

Taste is individual, but a couple other Jazz/ Classical collaborations to consider:
Claude Bolling and JP Rampal's "Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano" (and several follow-up collaborations).
Gerry Muligan's "Symphonic Dreams"
Lalo Schriffin "Jazz Meets Symphony"

The only Duke Ellington I have is Money Jungle with Charles Mingus on bass and Max Roach on drums. It is quite good. I am going to look for some more today. What would you suggest?