Count Basie, Duke Ellington - First Time: Count Meets the Duke
List Price:
Our Price: $2.89
You Save: $4.10 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Count Basie, Duke EllingtonEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-02-01
Music Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
Soundtracks:
- Battle Royal
- To You
- Take the "A" Train
- Corner Pocket (AKA Until I Met You)
- Wild Man (AKA Wild Man Moore)
- Segue in C
- B D B
- Jumpin' at the Woodside
Music reviews of First Time: Count Meets the Duke
Music Review: A Royal Ball (one casualty)
Rating: 4 Stars
This is not the cacophonous circus that two big bands playing together (for the first time, without rehearsal, and in one 12-hour session) might have become. Think of it as one large ensemble (like Kenton's 40+ piece mellophone orchestra) commanded by a first captain (Ellington) and two assistant directors (Basie and Strayhorn). Basie, the spokesperson for understatement, and Ellington, the supreme creator of small ensembles within larger ensembles: the result is sensible, swinging, and frequently exhilarating music--with enough spontaneity to satisfy even a Charles Mingus.
In fact, Mingus was the only musician the ultra permissive Ellington ever fired from his band--at the insistence of Juan Tizol, after the volatile bassman had come at the trombonist with a fire ax. On the occasion of this recording, Tizol again insisted that Ellington fire someone--trumpeter Cat Anderson, who had nearly sliced off his head with a spiraling Sam Woodyard cymbal. " It's him or me," said Juan. Ellington may have been agreeable, but the Maestro was not about to submit to an ultimatum issued in public by his trombonist. So "First Time" was the last time for Juan Tizol.
Musical highlights include some heated exchanges between the two bands' top soloists, especially Thad Jones vs. Cat Anderson, and Frank Foster + Frank Wess vs. Paul Gonsalves (who could hold his own in any company). Also, Wess' flute (an instrument that didn't interest Ellington) and Jimmy Hamilton's clarinet do a memorable "pas de deux." At the same time, not bringing together the lead altoists--Johnny Hodges and Marshall Royal--is a wasted opportunity. On the whole, the affair favors Basie over Ellington, whose subtle, nuanced palette and sophisticated compositional genius are less apparent than usual. The Freddie Green rhythm guitar would all but clinch it as a primarily Basie date were it not for the rich percussive colors and personal back-beat (as opposed to Sonny Payne's broader stroke) of Sam Woodyard.
A minor disappointment is the audio on this 2008 edition. There's some breaking up of the sound during the climactic ensemble passages of the main burner, "Battle Royal." Perhaps mine is a defective copy, because after the perfect sound of the digitalized and reissued "Ellington at Newport 1956," a buyer would have the right to expect as much of a 1962 date. Otherwise, the reissue presents complete tracks for the first time and adds 11 tracks to the 8 on the original album. The notes are copious, informative, and frequently absorbing.
Like the Ellington/Coltrane meeting, this is not an Ellington essential, but then again it's one no fan of either member of the royal pair would want to be without.
More First Time: Count Meets the Duke free music reviews:
1
1
Description of First Time: Count Meets the Duke
All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.Jazz CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Jazz CDs
Curtis Brothers Quartet - Blood, Spirit, Land, Water, FreedomRelease date: 2009-10-01; Music CD
![Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Casual-3-Pack-Vol-1-Count-Basie-Carmen-McRae-John-Coltrane-VHS-6305320578-X.jpg)
Jazz Casuals: Coltrane Basie & Mcrae - Jazz Casual - 3-Pack Vol. 1 (Count Basie, Carmen McRae, John Coltrane) [VHS]Rhino / Wea; Release date: 1999-05-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $43.27
![Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS] Image](/images/Jazz-Legend-Part-2-1970-1987-VHS-6303400787-X.jpg){kind=small}
Buddy Rich - Jazz Legend: Part 2 1970-1987 [VHS]Warner Brothers Pub.; Release date: 2000-10-20; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
![Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS] Image](/images/Living-Legend-of-the-Electric-Guitar-VHS-6302658225-X.jpg){kind=small}
Les Paul - Living Legend of the Electric Guitar [VHS]Bmg Video Label; Release date: 1993-02-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $19.95
Price in other shops:
![Hurricane [VHS] Image](/images/Hurricane-VHS-6302251281-X.jpg){kind=small}
Herbie Hancock - Hurricane [VHS]View Video; Release date: 1992-04-07; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.50
Cocktails for Twoby band leader Spike Jones
Music CD
Best price: $19.95
![Dave Grusin and the NY/LA Dream Band [VHS] Image](/images/Dave-Grusin-and-the-NY-LA-Dream-Band-VHS-6301724496-X.jpg)
Dave Grusin - Dave Grusin and the NY/ LA Dream Band [VHS]Umgd; Release date: 1990-06-26; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
![Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS] Image](/images/Diane-Schuur-Count-Basie-Orchestra-VHS-630164770X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Count Basie, Diane Schuur - Diane Schuur & Count Basie Orchestra [VHS]Grp Records; Release date: 1996-01-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Damals in HamburgRelease date: 1999-08-11; Music CD
Best price: $23.52
Ben Webster - Ben WebsterRelease date: 2006-12-20; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Money JungleRelease date: 2002-07-16; Music CD
Best price: $5.23
Price in other shops:
Duke Ellington - Three SuitesRelease date: 2008-02-01; Music CD
Best price: $2.56
Price in other shops:
Count Basie, Frank Sinatra - The Complete Reprise Studio RecordingsRelease date: 2011-09-06; Music CD
Best price: $12.49
Price in other shops:
Stan Getz - Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio: The Silver CollectionGETZ/PETERSON TRIO; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops:
Count Basie & His Orchestra - Basie Swings StandardsRelease date: 2009-03-31; Music CD
Best price: $4.63
Price in other shops:
Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong - Best Of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis ArmstrongRelease date: 1997-08-26; Music CD
Best price: $5.53
Price in other shops:
Count Basie - Chairman of the BoardRelease date: 2003-06-30; Music CD
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops:
Duke Ellington - Blues in Orbit (Reis)Release date: 2008-02-01; Music CD
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
Count Basie - Count Basie's Finest HourRelease date: 2002-05-07; Music CD
Best price: $6.37
Price in other shops:
Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong - Great Summit: The Master TakesRelease date: 2001-01-09; Music CD
Best price: $5.61
Price in other shops: