Jazz's premier composer and most galvanizing soloist met as equals on this 1962 quartet session. Splitting their differences, they're backed either by Duke's bassist and drummer, Aaron Bell and the great Ellingtonian Sam Woodyard, or by Coltrane's men Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Bell and Jones cross-pollinate Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood," distinguished by Duke's music-box piano figures and some exquisite Coltrane — even Ellington's peerless saxophone balladeer Johnny Hodges loved it. The leaders were from different eras, but Coltrane had played with Monk, who'd learned plenty from Duke about impacted harmonies and oblique accompaniment, and Ellington had been in the advance guard his whole career. One of this session's overlooked pleasures is hearing the pianist mix it up with Coltrane's crew, even if (like Monk) Ellington may vanish behind the tenor solos, so's not to hem the saxophonist in. He lets Coltrane run way out there, on the Ellington blues "Stevie" and Duke's playfully leaping "Angelica" aka "Purple Gazelle," the latter perked by Elvin's Latin beats. There are two more blues, by Coltrane and Ellington's alter ego Billy Strayhorn, and they do Strays' classic ballad "My Little Brown Book," rendered quietly sublime. Coltrane's "Big Nick," the only… read more »