Louis Armstron/Duke Ellington - Together For The First Time/The Great Reunion (MFSL UDCD 514) [Repost]

Louis Armstron/Duke Ellington - Together For The First Time/The Great Reunion
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab UDCD 514, released 1988
Repost
Lossless (EAC+FLAC) | Jazz | 1988 | 347 MB | Artwork


Alibris

Formerly available as a two-LP set and also released on CD by Roulette, these 17 selections are the entire results of the only meeting in the
studios by Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Although it might have been preferable to have Armstrong perform with Duke Ellington's orchestra,
Ellington's performance as pianist with Satch's All-Stars is quite satisfying. The all-Ellington program gave Armstrong a rest from his
usual repertoire and permitted him an opportunity to work his magic on fresh material. Lots of surprises, some sensitive vocalizing and
fine supporting work from trombonist Trummy Young and clarinetist Barney Bigard make this a gem.

These are the lions in winter, which is not to denigrate the mellow goings-on here, but more to say that this 1961 summit meeting finds
the titular giants trés engagé rather than volatile and competitive. The fare is all Ellington tunes, the band is Armstrong's All-Stars, led
by Duke on piano. Louis is long past the pyrotechnics of "West End Blues" and the Bessie Smith session, but still offers up some
heart-tugging solos that remind us his genius was as much in the expressions of his heart as it was in his embouchure and astonishing
instincts (check out "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good"). Duke plays it gently throughout, an engaging minimalist in this context, and you
hear something of the spare impressionism that must have gripped Bill Evans and Vince Guaraldi in their youth. All indirect light and muted
repartee, The Complete Sessions surprises in unexpected ways. --David McGee

Tracks
Together For The First Time
1. Duke's Place
2. I'm Just a Lucky So and So
3. Cotton Tail
4. Mood Indigo
5. Do Nothin' till You Hear From Me
6. Beautiful American, The
7. Black and Tan Fantasy
8. Drop Me Off in Harlem
9. Mooche, The
10. In a Mellowtone

The Great Reunion
11. It Don't Mean a Thing
12. Solitude
13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
14. I'm Beginning to See the Light
15. Just Squeeze Me
16. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
17. Azalea

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4