Duke Ellington & John Coltrane – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

Of all the various “staged” albums recorded with Ellington that saw him paired with various “young guns,” this is certainly my favorite, followed very closely by Money Jungle with Mingus and Max Roach.

This version of In A Sentimental Mood is quite simply one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever recorded.

Two things that should be immediately apparent about Ellington and Coltrane from this album—in case you weren’t aware already—are that a) Ellington is a really masterful and unique pianist, and b) Coltrane is a master of tone.

My Little Brown Book is almost as beautiful as Sentimental Mood, and Big Nick is probably the best example of a true blend of the two artists’s style, but note for note and pound for pound, this is simply a must-have recording for anyone who believes in—and wants to learn more about—the genius of jazz, in the hands of the masters.