Duke Ellington & Coleman Hawkins Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series) 180g LP

Recorded in August 1962 and released in February 1963 by Impulse! Records, Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins was called "one of the great Ellington albums, one of the great Hawkins albums and one of the great albums of the 1960s" by The New York Times.

Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises' audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets.

This set documents a historic occasion. Although Coleman Hawkins had been an admirer of Duke Ellington's music for at least 35 years at this point and Ellington had suggested they record together at least 20 years prior to their actual meeting in 1962, this was their first (and only) meeting on record. Although it would have been preferable to hear the great tenor performing with the full orchestra, his meeting with Ellington and an all-star group taken out of the big band does feature such greats as Ray Nance on cornet and violin, trombonist Lawrence Brown, altoist Johnny Hodges, and baritonist Harry Carney. High points include an exuberant 'The Jeep Is Jumpin',' an interesting remake of 'Mood Indigo,' and a few new Ellington pieces. This delightful music is recommended in one form or another.