Written in 1963, recorded near the end of 1966, and issued the following June, this is Ellington and Strayhorn’s last great statement together: Strayhorn died a month before the album’s release. Their tandem went out on top. Inspired (of course) by the band’s international travel, it was also, as always, tailored to the talents of their players, and do they deliver — not for nothing did Ellington call his sixties Orchestra the best he ever had. Far East Suite is a delightful Technicolor paradox: some of their most brocaded music is also some of their bluesiest, in feel if not form. Credit bassist John Lamb, who sounds like he’s playing a Redwood.