Duke Ellington – Money Jungle

In the history of legendarily tension-filled masterpieces, this is one of the tensioniest most masterpieceiest of them all.

In the history of deliberate multi-generational “pairings,” this is one of very, very, very few that achieve genuine greatness.

In the history of Mingus Tantrum Tales, the Mingus Tantrum Tale that sits at the center of this album’s origin story is one of the best.

In the history of jazz albums that make history, this is one of the most historical.

And if it never quite occurred to you that Duke Ellington really was a fantastic bloody piano player, well, then this album is for you too.