LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Ellington-and-Strayhorn, one of the most significant pairings in the entire history of jazz, primarily conjures up an image of rich orchestral settings. However, both were pianists to be reckoned with, and the few occasions on which they were persuaded to collaborate at two keyboards were certainly well described as Great Times. But these unique performances have had great trouble in being heard: recorded in 1950 and originally having a limited life as obscure 10-inch LPs, they were combined in their present form for 1964 issuance on Riverside--where they became part of that company's very last, never fully distributed release! Cotton Tail, C-Jam Blues, Flamingo, Bang-Up Blues, Tonk, Johnny Come Lately, In a Blue Summer Garden, Great Times, Perdido, Take the "A" Train, Oscalypso, Blues for Blantonwith Wendell Marshall, Joe Shulman, Oscar Pettiford, Lloyd Thomas, Jo Jones