Duke Ellington - Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins (1962)

The combination of Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins alone would be ideal for the vast majority of jazz fans. But add to the front line trombonist Lawrence Brown, saxophonists Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges, and cornetist/violinist Ray Nance, and you have a modern small jazz ensemble for the ages that would be tough to beat under any criteria, not so much a showcase for Hawkins as a group effort with everyone getting more than two cents' worth in. On this collection you receive, for your hard-earned dollars, eight originals, two of which have become well-known standards. Of the familiar fare, you hear a brief but unique off-minor intro on the heart-melting ballad "Mood Indigo," and all horns united on the democratic evergreen swinger "The Jeep Is Jumpin'." Hawkins plays a bit atonally and Brown struts during the bluesy modal head-nodding "Ray Charles' Place," while the band acts sly and slinky as you hear a signature uptown Ellington melody during the purebred "You Dirty Dog." The main feature for Hawkins where you clearly hear his familiar stoic and robust vibrato tenor sax sound is the slow and bluesy "Self-Portrait (Of the Bean)." The recording is bookended by Ellington's chiming, playful, concise, and rhythmic "ricitic" piano phrasings on the all-time favorite "Limbo Jazz" and "The Ricitic," the latter piece a showcase for the singularly beautiful and distinctive violin of Nance. Over the years, this near-perfect and timeless recording has only grown and matured with age, and should be a must-own for any traditional, mainstream, or general jazz aficionado. Also -- consider that this historic session was done in a single day! [This edition of Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins includes the bonus track "Solitude."]

By Michael G. Nastos in All Music Guide

Styles:
Early Jazz
Hard-Bop
Bop

Tracks:
01 - Limbo Jazz (05:15)
02 - Mood Indigo (05:56)
03 - Ray Charles' Place (04:05)
04 - Wanderlust (05:00)
05 - You Dirty Dog (04:20)
06 - Self-Portrait (of the Bean) (03:53)
07 - The Jeep is Jumpin' (04:50)
08 - The Ricitic (05:53)
09 - Solitude (05:51)

Line-up:
Duke Ellington - piano
Coleman Hawkins - tenor saxophone
Lawrence Brown - trombone
Harry Carney - bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
Aaron Bell - bass
Ray Nance - violin, cornet
Sam Woodyard - drums

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1962)

For this classic encounter, Duke Ellington "sat in" with the John Coltrane Quartet for a set dominated by Ellington's songs; some performances have his usual sidemen (bassist Aaron Bell and drummer Sam Woodyard) replacing Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones in the group. Although it would have been preferable to hear Coltrane play in the Duke Ellington orchestra instead of the other way around, the results are quite rewarding. Their version of "In a Sentimental Mood" is a high point, and such numbers as "Take the Coltrane," "Big Nick," and "My Little Brown Book" are quite memorable. Ellington always recognized talent, and Coltrane seemed quite happy to be recording with a fellow genius.

by Scott Yanow in All Music Guide

Styles:
Mainstream Jazz
Piano Jazz
Jazz Instrument
Post-Bop

Tracks:
01 In a Sentimental Mood
02 Take the Coltrane
03 Big Nick
04 Stevie
05 My Little Brown Book
06 Angelica
07 The Feeling of Jazz

Line-up:
Duke Ellington - piano
John Coltrane - tenor and soprano saxophone
Aaron Bell - bass (1, 4, 5, 7)
Sam Woodyard - drums (4, 5, 7)
Jimmy Garrison - bass (2, 3, 6)
Elvin Jones - drums (1, 2, 3, 6)