Play The Music Of Duke Ellington - The Architect

Originally recorded in 2002 and now newly digitally remastered for 2026, The Architect stands as one of the most ambitious and stylistically unique recordings ever created by New York's pioneering "Ghetto Swing" ensemble, The Yalloppin' Hounds. Produced, arranged, mixed, and mastered by Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno, the album boldly reimagines lesser-known works connected to the legacy of Duke Ellington through a distinctly modern lens - blending live swing-era instrumentation, underground New York attitude, jazz improvisation, hip-hop textures, and dark post-9/11 atmosphere.Rather than revisiting the most familiar Ellington standards, The Architect explores deeper cuts and overlooked compositions including "Spankin' Brand New Doll," "The Piano Player," "Something 'Bout Believing," and "Acht O' Clock Rock," presenting them with the energy of a live downtown jazz collective fused with contemporary rhythm and urban storytelling. The album's haunting reinterpretation of "I'm Beginning To See The Light" transforms the classic composition into a reflection on uncertainty, tragedy, and the emotional aftermath of early-2000s New York.The recording features an eclectic ensemble led by Joey "G-Clef" Cavaseno on saxophones, piano, clarinet, organ, vocals, percussion, and ASR-10 programming, alongside original Yalloppin' Hounds trumpeter Lord Sledge, special guest trombonist J. Walter Hawkes of Jet Set Six, vocalist and bassist Peter Hartmann, vocalists Melissa Kate Miller, Jacqueline "Jakineko" Barclay, and Archangel Metatron. The sessions were recorded between Lost Secret Recording in Queens, NY and Bionic Studios in Valley Stream, NY during 2002.Now restored and remastered for modern digital and CD release, The Architect remains one of the defining statements of the Yalloppin' Hounds' visionary fusion of jazz tradition and underground New York culture.