Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 1967 album “Far East Suite” by Duke Ellington. The colours are as follows:
Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colour 1 | #403738 | 64, 55, 56 | 353, 14, 25 | 0, 14, 12, 74 | 24, 4, 0 |
Colour 2 | #A65389 | 166, 83, 137 | 321, 50, 65 | 0, 50, 17, 34 | 47, 41, -14 |
Colour 3 | #3E608C | 62, 96, 140 | 214, 56, 55 | 55, 31, 0, 45 | 40, 1, -28 |
Colour 4 | #7A8C68 | 122, 140, 104 | 90, 26, 55 | 12, 0, 25, 45 | 55, -13, 17 |
Colour 5 | #BF5F56 | 191, 95, 86 | 5, 55, 75 | 0, 50, 54, 25 | 51, 37, 23 |
The Far East Suite, released in June 1967 by the legendary American jazz pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, is a concept album that showcases a remarkable fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions. Despite its title, the album predominantly draws inspiration from Ellington’s 1963 tour of India, the Middle East, and the Eastern Mediterranean, rather than the Far East.
Composed by Ellington and his longtime collaborator Billy Strayhorn, the album features nine intricate compositions, each paying homage to the musical heritage of the visited countries, such as Japan, India, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon. One of the standout tracks, “Isfahan,” has since become a jazz standard, captivating audiences with mesmerising melodies.
The album’s cover art, featuring a depiction of the Taj Mahal and a sketch of Duke Ellington surrounded by figures in Indian attire, visually represents the cultural influences that shaped the music. The intricate details and vibrant colours mirror the complexity and richness of the compositions, making the cover an integral part of the overall experience.
Upon its release, the Far East Suite received widespread critical acclaim, cementing Ellington’s status as a musical genius. Critics praised the album for its innovative fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions, hailing it as a groundbreaking work of art. Notably, Ellington chose to use standard big band instrumentation while subtly incorporating themes and motifs, familiar to various Asian music traditions, creating a unique sound palette.
The album’s success was further solidified when it won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Large Group or Soloist with Large Group in 1968. In 1999, American percussionist and bandleader Anthony Brown recorded the entire suite with his Asian-American Orchestra, incorporating both Eastern and standard jazz instruments.
The Far East Suite represents an adventurous musical journey that challenges the comfort zones of both listeners and performers. However, the familiar instruments and recognisable musicians firmly root this work in the Ellingtonian canon and jazz tradition. The album successfully blends old and new, different and familiar, presenting a fascinating musical exploration of cultures foreign to most Westerners while conveying emotions that resonate with audiences worldwide.Did you like this weeks colour scheme? Do you fancy using it for your next release cover? Visit our shop or drop us a line!