The Complete Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Sessions

Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 10, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000005HFV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  DVD Audio
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #204,801 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #83 in Music > Indie Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz

Track Listings

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. The Beautiful American

7. Black and Tan Fantasy

8. Drop Me off in Harlem

9. The Mooche

10. In a Mellow Tone

11. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

12. Solitude

13. Don't Get Around Much Anymore

14. I'm Beginning to See the Light

15. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)

16. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

17. Azalea

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Desert Island Music from the Masters, October 8, 2004

By 

Phillip J. Crawford (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Sessions (Audio CD)

This is my favorite CD. These are the two greatest musicians in jazz history and the chemistry between them is incredible. It's the perfect mixture of Duke's New York sophistication and Louis' New Orleans down-home feeling. There is not a bad note on this record, but my favorite cut is "Azalea." When I close my eyes and listen to Louis sing this little-known Ellington gem, I can feel the muggy Louisiana heat, feel the breeze from slowly turning ceiling fan, and taste the bourbon on the rocks. (As another reviewer said, Louis Armstrong's worst recording is better than 98% of the music currently available on record. The same, I'd say, is true of Duke.) Buy this CD. If it doesn't make you feel good, you must be dead.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars Is An Understatement!, March 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Sessions (Audio CD)

I got this CD for Christmas, and I must say that it was my favorite gift! At the time I got it, I didn't read the other customer reviews, and I was just going to post my thoughts when I saw that the other reviews weren't good at all! The one who said that "Some Jazz Musicians Just Aren't Meant To Make Music Together" or whatever he said was CRAZY! Just relax, and listen to the best version of 'Azalea' yet! It's magic and the two mix together so nicely! I promise you'll be happy with it!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meeting Of Two Jazz Greats, January 25, 1999

By 

Paul W Urbahns "Paul Urbahns from KY" (Radcliff KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington Sessions (Audio CD)

The idea of getting Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong together had probably been on many peoples minds, but their schedules just seemed to keep it a dream. That is until Roulette scheduled a date when both Armstrong and Ellington was in town. Some compromises had to be made, the band used was Armstrong's All Stars, and the music is all Ellington. Using the All Stars instead of Ellington's big band kept Armstrong in the small combo setting where he fits best. Ellington replaced Armstrongs normal piano player and everything worked out fine. The songs were well know to the band as several had played in Ellington's big band. This is classic jazz of the highest order. The technical quality of the disk (all in stereo) will not disappoint.