Ellington & Basie - First Time! The Count Meets The Duke - FLAC

Duke Ellington & Count Basie
First Time! The Count Meets the Duke
1961
FLAC

1. Battle Royal
2. To You
3. Take the "A" Train
4. Corner Pocket (AKA Until I Met You)
5. Wild Man (AKA Wild Man Moore)
6. Segue in C
7. B D B
8. Jumpin' at the Woodside


Thank you. Enjoy!

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--
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