''The Great Summit: The Master Takes'' is a 2001 Blue Note album by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

and

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several era ...

. It is a reissue of the two

Roulette Roulette is a casino game named after the French word meaning ''little wheel'' which was likely developed from the Italian game Biribi''.'' In the game, a player may choose to place a bet on a single number, various groupings of numbers, the ...

albums ''Together For The First Time'' (track 1–10) and ''The Great Reunion'' (track 11–17) from 1961. (These two albums have later resurfaced as a Roulette double-LP entitled ''The Duke Ellington/Louis Armstrong Years'' and in 1990 as a remastered CD called ''Together for the First Time/The Great Reunion''.) The contents of this album is an all-Ellington program performed by himself and Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars. These 17 selections are the entire result of the only studio meeting by

and

. They both lead a small band - Louis Armstrong's All Stars - and play classic compositions by Ellington such as "Mood Indigo" and "Black And Tan Fantasy".

The Great Summit: The Master Takes

All songs composed by Duke Ellington solely (except where otherwise stated). # Duke's Place — 5:03
Lyrics by

William Katz William Katz may refer to: * William Loren Katz William Loren Katz (June 2, 1927 – October 25, 2019) was an American teacher, historian, and author of 40 books on African-American history, including a number of titles for young adult readers. H ...

, Bob Thiele and

Ruth Roberts Ruth Roberts (August 31, 1926 – June 30, 2011) was an American songwriter. Life and career She was born in Port Chester, New York, to Robert and Lillian Mulwitz. She was educated at Port Chester High School, Northwestern University, and the Ju ...

. # I'm Just a Lucky So and So — 3:09
Lyrics by Mack David. #

Cottontail Cottontail rabbits are the leporid species in the genus ''Sylvilagus'', found in the Americas. Most ''Sylvilagus'' species have stub tails with white undersides that show when they retreat, giving them their characteristic name. However, this ...

— 3:42 #

Mood Indigo "Mood Indigo" is a jazz song with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard and lyrics by Irving Mills. Composition Although Irving Mills—Jack Mills's brother and publishing partner—took credit for the lyrics, Mitchell Parish claimed in ...

— 3:57
Co-composer is

Barney Bigard Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was an American jazz clarinetist known for his 15-year tenure with Duke Ellington. He also played tenor saxophone. Biography Bigard was born in New Orleans to Creole parents, Ale ...

with lyrics by

Irving Mills Irving Harold Mills (born Isadore Minsky; January 16, 1894 – April 21, 1985) was an American music publisher, musician, lyricist, and jazz artist promoter. He sometimes used the pseudonyms Goody Goodwin and Joe Primrose. Personal Mills was ...

. # Do Nothin' till You Hear From Me — 2:38
Lyrics by Bob Russell. #The Beautiful American — 3:08 #

Black and Tan Fantasy "Black and Tan Fantasy" is a 1927 jazz composition by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley. The song was recorded several times in 1927 for the Okeh, Victor and Brunswick record labels. The song was also featured in the 1929 short film ''Black and Tan ...

— 3:59
Co-composer is James "Bubber" Miley. # Drop Me Off in Harlem — 3:49
Lyrics by Nick Kenny. # The Mooche — 3:38
Lyrics by

. # In a Mellow Tone — 3:48
Lyrics by Milt Gabler. #

It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" is a 1931 composition by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. It is now accepted as a jazz standard, and jazz historian Gunther Schuller characterized it as "now legendary" and "a prophe ...

— 3:58
Lyrics by

. #

Solitude Solitude is a state of seclusion or isolation, meaning lack of socialisation. Effects can be either positive or negative, depending on the situation. Short-term solitude is often valued as a time when one may work, think, or rest without distu ...

— 4:55
Lyrics by Eddie DeLange and

. #

Don't Get Around Much Anymore "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" is a jazz standard written by composer Duke Ellington. The song was originally entitled "Never No Lament" and was first recorded by Duke Ellington and his orchestra on May 4, 1940. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" q ...

— 3:31
Lyrics by Bob Russell. # I'm Beginning to See the Light — 3:37
Co-composers are

Don George Don R. George (August 27, 1909 – 1987) was an American lyricist of popular music. His songs include " The Yellow Rose of Texas" " I Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" (1937), "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (1944) and " Everything but You" (1945 ...

, Johnny Hodges and Harry James. #

Just Squeeze Me "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)" is a 1941 popular song composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Lee Gaines. The song has been recorded numerous times by a number of artists in the years since, having become a jazz standard. Hit reco ...

— 3:58
Lyrics by Lee Gaines. #

I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" is a pop and jazz standard with music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by Paul Francis Webster published in 1941. It was introduced in the musical revue ''Jump for Joy'' by Ivie Anderson, who also provided the v ...

— 5:31
Co-composer is

Paul Francis Webster Paul Francis Webster (December 20, 1907 – March 18, 1984) was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and was nominated sixteen times for the award. Life and career Webster was born in New York City, United St ...

. #Azalea — 5:02

The Making of the Great Summit

Already on August 1, 2000 Blue Note had released the compilation ''The Great Summit: The Complete Sessions'', which contained the reissue above plus a second CD with alternate takes (rehearsals, false starts etc.). The alternate takes were digitally remastered in 2000. # In a Mellow Tone — 4:15 # I'm Beginning to See the Light — 6:56 # Do Nothin' till You Hear From Me — 5:42 #

— 10:43 # Duke's Place — 4:18 # Drop Me Off in Harlem — 4:57 # I'm Just a Lucky So and So — 4:37 #

Azalea Azaleas are flowering shrubs in the genus ''Rhododendron'', particularly the former sections ''Tsutsusi'' (evergreen) and '' Pentanthera'' (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in the spring (April and May in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, and Octob ...

— 8:05 #

— 7:13 #Band Discussion on

— 1:08

Personnel

(piano) *

(trumpet, vocals) *

(clarinet) *

Danny Barcelona Danny Barcelona (July 23, 1929 – April 1, 2007) was an American jazz drummer best known for his years with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars. He was a Filipino-American born in Waipahu, a community of Honolulu, Hawaii. He was also frequently int ...

(drums) *

Mort Herbert Mort Herbert (June 30, 1925 – June 5, 1983) was an American jazz bassist and lawyer. Life Herbert was born Mort Pelovitz on June 30, 1925, in Somerville, New Jersey. Self-taught on bass, Herbert is best-remembered for his stint as a member of ...

(bass) * Trummy Young (trombone)

Credits

*Bob Thiele (producer) *Ray Hall (recording engineer) *Arnold Meyers (cover photograph)) *Michael Cuscuna (reissue producer) *Ron McMaster (remix and remaster)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Summit, The 1961 albums Duke Ellington albums Louis Armstrong albums Blue Note Records albums Albums produced by Bob Thiele Albums produced by Michael Cuscuna