Festival Session – Duke Ellington

Artist: Duke Ellington

Genre: Big Band

Year: 1959

Grade: A-

When compared to more widely-celebrated LPs like Ellington Uptown and Ellington at Newport, 1959’s Festival Session is another underrated gem in the vast Duke Ellington discography. Yet there comes a point when the term eventually has no meaning — every Ellington album should be properly rated and recognized as nothing short of amazing. Festival Session is no exception.

Featuring standards (“Perdido”) and suites (“Idiom ’59 Pts. 1 – 3”) and one Paul Gonsalves marathon showcase (“Copout Extension”), Festival Session is pretty much a masterpiece through and through.

Festival Session – Duke Ellington

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