Duke Ellington and his Orchestra were one of the few groups to survive the "death" of big band music in the post-war years which gave rise to popular singers backed by orchestral arrangements, such as Frank Sinatra, and birthed new forms of jazz such as be-bop, which only required a small group instead of hiring a big band. His triumphant live recording/performance, Ellington At Newport in 1956 caused a resurgence in interest in Ellington and big-band music in general. Ellington Indigos, however is a not a typical Ellington record, instead filled with ten easy-listening ballad type songs. Recorded in 1957 and produced by Irving Berlin, Ellington Indigos, is a very relaxing, low key record, not requiring much attention to hear the serenity and skill shown by Ellington's soloists, especially on "Mood Indigos", a muted trumpet solo for Shorty Baker, and "Solitude", Ellington himself on piano. "Autumn Leaves" is also another fantastic performance by Ray Nance, a violinist in Ellington's string section of his band. Although a relaxing listen, especially just as mood music, Ellington Indigos is not an essential recording among the mounds of other brilliant recordings Ellington and his Orchestra have made, merely a healthy indulgence.
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