Jazz Party

AMG Review of Jazz Party

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

A most unusual Duke Ellington record, two selections feature nine symphonic percussionists on tympani, vibes, marimbas and xylophones. Dizzy Gillespie makes a historic appearance with Ellington's orchestra on "U.M.M.G." (a meeting that should have been repeated often but sadly never was), Jimmy Rushing (Count Basie's former vocalist) sings "Hello Little Girl" and both Johnny Hodges ("All of Me") and Paul Gonsalves ("Ready Go!") have chances to blow. This Columbia release was reissued in 1997 as a Mobile Fidelity audiophile CD.