Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
Perhaps looking to renew his inspiration or maybe simply wanting to broaden his horizons, Duke Ellington began a string of collaborations in the second half of his career--whereas before that, his own band was stimulus enough. Whatever the reason, almost all of his collaborations succeeded at high levels, although none of his shared sessions are more intriguing on the surface than this 1962 date with the preeminent sax star of the day. In reality, the record amounts to "Coltrane Plays Ellington" (plus one Coltrane original) because the tenor man is the whole show--and what a show it is. Only Coltrane could be as "fiercely tender," and there's no better forum for his sensitive side than the music of Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, who contributes the album's true vertex, "My Little Brown Book." The rhythm section alternates between Duke's and Trane's, each adding a different texture to the proceedings. Ellington is wise enough to appreciate the nature of the session, and he is quite content to feed chords in service of the young master--proving the old master's open mind and good taste. Hearing Coltrane seize "In a Sentimental Mood" is thanks enough.--Marc Greilsamer