TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

When stars collide, sparks will fly. At least that's the theory.
Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington accepted the invitation to
record together with dignity and polite courtesy. While keen to
see what this pairing might produce artistically speaking, it was
certainly an historic occasion. As the red light went on and the
tapes rolled, Duke on piano and Louis on trumpet and vocals,
backed by the Armstrong All-Stars began to play. As Ellington
hits the keys on a riff that sounds suspiciously like C Jam Blues
and Satchmo sings cheerfully 'Baby, take me down to Duke's
Place!' the champions are ready to exchange ideas rather than
blows. Perhaps unsurprisingly Louis soon emerged from this
unique musical gathering as the natural born leader. But all the
source material was firmly Ellingtonian. Both men had enjoyed
extraordinary careers and were world renowned figures when the
idea of bringing them together was first proposed.