Happy Reunion
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Happy Reunion
| type = Album
| artist = Duke Ellington
| cover = Happy Reunion.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1985
| recorded = March 19, 1956, & June 24, 1958
| studio = Universal, Chicago
| genre = Jazz
| length = 33:35
| label = Doctor Jazz
| producer = Duke Ellington & Bill Putnam
| chronology = Duke Ellington
| prev_title = The Cosmic Scene
| prev_year = 1958
| next_title = Newport 1958
| next_year = 1958
}}
Happy Reunion is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded in 1956 and 1958 but not released until 1985 on the Doctor Jazz label.[http://www.bsnpubs.com/new/drjazz.pdf Both Sides Now: Doctor Jazz Label Discography], accessed November 26, 2019 The album features two small group sessions led by Ellington and recorded in Chicago.{{Cite web |url=http://depanorama.net/ |title=Duke Ellington Panorama: Discography |access-date=November 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125230010/http://depanorama.net/ |archive-date=November 25, 2019 |url-status=usurped}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}
}}
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow stated: "A particular highlight is hearing Gonsalves play 31 choruses on 'Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue" in this setting'.{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r138208|last=Yanow|first=Scott}}
Track listing
All compositions by Duke Ellington except where noted
- "Way Back Blues" (Count Basie) - 3:25
- "Where's the Music?" - 3:11
- "Rubber Bottom" - 2:48
- "Play the Blues and Go" - 4:32
- "In a Mellow Tone" [Take 1] (Ellington, Milt Gabler) - 3:14
- "In a Mellow Tone" [Take 2] (Ellington, Gabler) - 2:58
- "Happy Reunion" [Take 1] - 3:26
- "Happy Reunion" [Take 2] - 2:42
- "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue (The Wailing Interval)" - 7:20
- Recorded at Universal Studios, Chicago, on March 19, 1956 (tracks 1-4) and June 24, 1958 (tracks 5-9).
Personnel
- Duke Ellington – piano
- Clark Terry - trumpet (tracks 1-4)
- John Sanders - valve trombone (tracks 1-4)
- Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet (tracks 1-4)
- Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone (tracks 1-4)
- Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone (tracks 5-9)
- Jimmy Woode - bass
- Sam Woodyard - drums