Alex Farran Guitar

Iconic Performances; “Isfahan” - Duke Ellington Band (Patreon)

Published:

2025-11-28 16:16:40

Imported:

2026-08

Tags:

Billy Strayhorn Iconic performances Johnny Hodges big band duke ellington jazz

Content

Ellington/Strayhorn/Hodges.. one of the finest musical machines of the last century!

“Isfahan” is a long standing favourite piece and this live performance is just sublime. The ever humble Duke holding the sheet music for Hodges.. that’s the kind of humility you want in a band leader.

Listen to the phrasing, the expression, the emotion in Johnny Hodges’ playing!

Do go and check out the studio take that made it onto the “Far East Suite” record too..

https://youtu.be/wXm-6sPDCm0?si=cn22IBd5733jf8Kq

Files

Duke Ellington - Isfahan

@cookdandbombd - http://www.cookdandbombd.co.uk Encoded by lfbarfe! Watching the Duke Ellington Jazz 65 show (kindly encoded by Mr lfbarfe), I was VERY taken with the performance of Isfahan, from the "Far East Suite." I've chopped it out to share on YouTube, partly so I can keep it handy. Hope you enjoy it. Johnny Hodge's playing is extraordinarily beautiful, very warm and emotive. If you like this, then check out Demonoid for the full thing.