Count Basie / Duke Ellington / First Time! The Count Meets the Duke

AllMusic Review by John Bush

A battle of the bands? Not quite -- more like a mutual admiration society, with the orchestras of both jazz titans playing together. (The Duke is heard on the right side of your stereo/headphones, the Count on the left.) Ellington's elegance and unique voicings meet Basie's rollicking, blues-based Kansas City swing, and it works gloriously. There's no clutter, each band is focused, and they sound great together. This is not the thoughtful, reflective composer side of Ellington (listeners should check out Far East Suite or Black, Brown & Beige for that). The Duke and his band accentuate their swinging dance band side, while Basie and company have never sounded as suave and exotic as when playing Billy Strayhorn arrangements. Everyone has a good time, and that joy infuses this album from start to finish.

Reception 

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4½ stars calling it "a very successful and surprisingly uncrowded encounter. On most selections Ellington and Basie both play piano (their interaction with each other is wonderful) and the arrangements allowed the stars from both bands to take turns soloing".^[2]

Personnel

Duke Ellington, Count Basie – piano Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Eddie Mullens, Ray Nance, Sonny Cohn, Lennie Johnson, Thad Jones, Snooky Young - trumpet Lou Blackburn, Lawrence Brown, Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell - trombone Juan Tizol - valve trombone Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone Russell Procope, Marshal Royal - alto saxophone, clarinet Frank Wess - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute Paul Gonsalves, Frank Foster, Budd Johnson - tenor saxophone Harry Carney, Charlie Fowlkes - baritone saxophone Freddie Green - guitar Aaron Bell, Eddie Jones - bass Sam Woodyard, Sonny Payne - drums Recorded at 30th Street Studio, New York on July 6, 1961. Producer – Teo Macero

Track listing

A1 Battle Royal 0:00 A2 To You 5:35 A3 Take The 'A' Train 9:32 A4 Until I Met You 13:21 B1 Wild Man 18:19 B2 Segue In C 24:03 B3 B D B 32:28 B4 Jumpin' At The Woodside 36:34



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