title: The Intimacy of the Blues
text: # The Intimacy of the Blues
  
  The Intimacy of the Blues is a studio album by the American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington, recorded in 1967 and 1970, and released on the Fantasy label in 1986.
  
  ## Reception
  
  Professional ratings :
  
  | Review scores ||
  | - | - |
  | Source | Rating |
  | AllMusic | |
  | The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | |
  
  The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "Duke Ellington did a remarkable number of private recordings with small groups taken from his orchestra and the selections included on this CD reissue are some of the best... Excellent music".
  
  ## Track listing
  
      All compositions by Duke Ellington except as indicated
  * "The Intimacy of the Blues" (Billy Strayhorn) - 4:01
  * "Out South" - 2:37
  * "Tell Me 'Bout My Baby" - 3:19
  * "Kentucky Avenue" - 4:01
  * "Near North" - 2:36
  * "Soul Country" - 2:10
  * "Noon Mooning" - 6:04
  * "Rockochet" - 4:22
  * "Tippy-Toeing Through the Jungle Garden" - 5:55
  * "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin''" (Ellington, Strayhorn, Lee Gaines) - 3:00
  * "All Too Soon" (Ellington, Carl Sigman) - 3:51
  
     * Recorded at RCA Studio B in New York, NY on March 15, 1967 (tracks 1-6), in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 7, 1970 (tracks 7-9)and at National Recording Studio, New York, NY on July 15, 1970 (tracks 10 & 11).
  
  ## Personnel
  
  * Duke Ellington – piano
  * Wild Bill Davis - organ (tracks 7, 9, & 10)
  * Cat Anderson (tracks 1-6 & 11), Willie Cook (tracks 7-9) - trumpet
  * Lawrence Brown - trombone (tracks 1-9)
  * Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone (tracks 1-6)
  * Harold Ashby (track 11), Paul Gonsalves (tracks 1-10) - tenor saxophone
  * Harry Carney - baritone saxophone (tracks 1-6)
  * Norris Turney - flute (track 10)
  * Joe Benjamin (tracks 10 & 11), Victor Gaskin (tracks 7-9), John Lamb (tracks 1-6), Paul Kondziela (tracks 7-9) - bass
  * Rufus Jones - drums
  