Ellington, Duke / Basie, Count – Battle Royal

Limited 180gm vinyl LP pressing. Includes two bonus tracks. Although they had known each other since their youth, and on many occasions featured on the same concert bills, Duke Ellington and Count Basie never crossed paths in a recording studio before or after the 1961 session presented here - the now legendary, 'Battle Royal'. Despite the much-spoken rivalry between them, Ellington and Basie were close friends and great admirers of each other's work. Their bands had different styles, both clearly recognizable, and the incredible musicians who played in them were half of the success of both bands, which over the years included such outstanding players as Ben Webster, Lester Young, Harry Sweets Edison, Jimmy Blanton, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Rushing, Jo Jones, Thad Jones and Harry Carney, to name just a few.

1. BATTLE ROYAL (Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn) 5:36
2. TO YOU (Thad Jones) 3:57
3. TAKE THE “A” TRAIN (Billy Strayhorn) 3:48
4. CORNER POCKET [aka UNTIL I MET YOU] (Freddie Green-Don Wolf) 4:56
5. BLUES IN HOSS’ FLAT [BLUES IN FRANKIE’S FLAT]
6. (Frank Foster-Count Basie) 3:16*
7. WILD MAN [aka WILD MAN MOORE] (Duke Ellington) 6:24
8. SEGUE IN C (Frank Wess) 8:25
9. B D B (Duke Ellington-Billy Strayhorn) 4:46
10. JUMPIN’ AT THE WOODSIDE (Count Basie) 3:11
11. ONE MORE ONCE (Duke Ellington) 3:29*

Label: Jazz Wax Records

Catalog: 2370148

Genre: Jazz