Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington are two of the main names in jazz. Although their paths had crossed from time to time over the years, nobody in the entertainment industry had ever managed to get Armstrong and Ellington into a recording studio to make an album together. On April 3, 1961, producer Bob Thiele achieved what should be regarded as one of his greatest accomplishments; he organised and supervised a seven-and-a-half-hour session at RCA Victor's Studio One on East 24th Street in Manhattan, using a sextet combining Duke Ellington with Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars. This group included ex-Ellington clarinetist Barney Bigard, ex-Jimmie Lunceford swing-to-bop trombonist Trummy Young, bassist Mort Herbert, and drummer Danny Barcelona. A second session took place during the afternoon of the following day. The music resulting from Thiele's inspired experiment is outstanding and utterly essential. The Armstrong/Ellington master takes were originally issued on two long-playing records; Recording Together for the First Time came out on Roulette in 1961 and The Great Reunion appeared in 1963. Those who truly love and respect Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington will want to obtain, absorb, study, and cherish this music.
