(CBS 20AP 1501).
Liberia was declared a republic in 1847. This west african country has been created by freed american slaves "coming back" to Africa, which represents a unique (and controversial) experience.
To celebrate the centennial in 1947, the liberian government ordered Duke Ellington to compose a suite for the occasion.
Credits:
Duke Ellington – piano
Shorty Baker, Shelton Hemphill, Al Killian, Francis Williams - trumpet
Ray Nance - trumpet, violin
Lawrence Brown, Tyree Glenn - trombone
Claude Jones - valve trombone
Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
Al Sears - tenor saxophone
Harry Carney - baritone saxophone, vocal (track 1)
Fred Guy - guitar
Oscar Pettiford, Junior Raglin - bass
Sonny Greer - drums
This suite has been perfomed live twice in Carnegie Hall, never in Liberia.
Duke Ellington had a trip to Africa 20 years later, during Senghor's official Festival des Arts Negres in Senegal (1966).
