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First Time! The Count Meets The Duke
Duke Ellington
First Time! The Count Meets The Duke
Genre: Jazz
 
The two greatest big bands in jazz history side by side on your headphones: What can be more glorious? If, as Billy Strayhorn said, Duke Ellington's band was his instrument, then this 1961 session finds Ellington and Count...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Duke Ellington
Title: First Time! The Count Meets The Duke
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Genre: Jazz
Style: Swing Jazz
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 074644058628

Synopsis

Amazon.com essential recording
The two greatest big bands in jazz history side by side on your headphones: What can be more glorious? If, as Billy Strayhorn said, Duke Ellington's band was his instrument, then this 1961 session finds Ellington and Count Basie "trading fours," as it were. The composer credits and solo space are divided democratically, to say the least--four songs from Duke's camp, four from Basie's. The sparring between soloists of both bands is a pure delight, especially the gentle conversations between the two leaders-pianists, who finish each other's thoughts as if all four hands were attached to one unified torso. Highlights include two engaging new Duke compositions--the blistering opener "Battle Royal" and the impulsive "Wild Man"--and the closing Basie chestnut "Jumpin' at the Woodside," on which the lead tenors Frank Foster and Paul Gonsalves engage in ferocious dueling. Amazingly, there is no toe-stepping amid the rousing interplay. --Marc Greilsamer

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Member CD Reviews

Frank H. (pancho) from NEW CASTLE, PA
Reviewed on 7/25/2016...
When I saw a chance to listen to two masters working together for the first time, I wasted no time in choosing this CD. In my experience, there is a danger when selecting old music. The quality of the old recording equipment is ordinarily shown to be lacking on modern day stereos. Happily, that's not the case with this CD. The remastering produced dynamic music that exceeded my expectations and stands out when compared with other recordings from that time. It's my guess that they a good to work with and took the time to convert them into a very listenable CD.