Compare Duke Ellington's Far East Suite

could have been forgiven if, by the time he was 67, he had gradually lost his creative desire not to mention his writing skills. But his genius never dimmed as witness the new music ( and "Ad Lib on Nippon") on this superb set. is in reality eight separate compositions of which the beautiful "Isfahan" (a memorable feature) became the best-known melody; and are also among the main stars with the clarinetist being showcased throughout "Ad Lib on Nippon." But it is the writing of in their late prime that makes this one of his more memorable recordings. ~ Scott Yanow