• ESSENTIAL DUKE ELLINGTON, THE
1 1

ESSENTIAL DUKE ELLINGTON, THE

ESSENTIAL DUKE ELLINGTON, THE

$20.94 USD
$20.94 USD $20.94 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Out of stock

Shipping Information

We carefully package every order to help ensure your records and media arrive safely. Orders are typically processed promptly, and tracking information is provided once your shipment is on its way.

Shipping costs and delivery estimates are calculated at checkout based on your location and selected shipping method.

View Shipping Policy

Returns & Exchanges

We want you to shop with confidence. If there's an issue with your order, we're here to help.

New, unopened items may be returned in accordance with our Return Policy. For complete details, including return eligibility and timeframes, please review our full Return Policy before making your purchase.

View Return Policy

Collector's Guide

Every collection tells a story.

Whether you're buying your first record or adding a rare pressing to your shelves, understanding editions, formats, and release details can help you make informed collecting decisions. At Vibin' Vinyl, we believe collecting is about more than just owning the music—it's about appreciating the artwork, packaging, mastering, and history behind every release.

Looking to expand your collecting knowledge?

Explore our Collector's Guide for tips, format guides, and collecting advice.

Read the Collector's Guide

Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Ivie Anderson (vocals); Lonnie Johnson, Fred Guy (guitar); Barney Bigard (clarinet, saxophone); Harry Carney (clarinet, baritone saxophone); Johnny Hodges (clarinet); Otto Hardwick (alto saxophone, bass saxophone); Jabbo Smith (trumpet); Juan Tizol (valve trombone); Bass Edwards (tuba); Billy Strayhorn (piano); Hayes Alvis, Billy Taylor (bass instrument); Sonny Greer (drums). Given the staggering number of Duke Ellington collections available and the bandleader/composer/pianist's decades-spanning career, it's difficult to determine the best compilations. Columbia/Legacy's two-disc ESSENTIAL DUKE ELLINGTON ranks among the finest, however. Drawing from more than 30 years of recordings for multiple labels (Columbia, Okeh, Brunswick), this 37-track set ranges from 1927's sauntering "East St. Louis Toodle-oo" to 1960's mysterious, woodwind-heavy "Arabesque Cookie." Most of the tunes here, though, date back to Ellington's peak years--the late '20s to early '40s--including the sassy "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)," the gentle "In a Sentimental Mood," and the boisterous "Take the 'A' Train." Throughout this ESSENTIAL set, Ellington's compositional and instrumental skills are consistently sophisticated and inventive. Every song is enhanced by his formidable ensembles, which include the multi-instrumental talents of reed players Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges, along with many other jazz legends. Those looking for a more in-depth collection of Ellington classics should seek out THE DUKE, but for a concise-yet-sweeping selection of his finest moments, it's hard to beat THE ESSENTIAL DUKE ELLINGTON.
View full details