This is among the finest Ellington small group sides. The predominantly blues repertoire is the perfect setting for Sweets and Hodges to open out, with Duke getting a simpler, but no less forceful rhythm section backing than he did in his own band, notes Jazzwise. Hodges does some of the most soulful playing of his career here.

Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve Label Group and Universal Music Enterprises’ audiophile Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. All titles are mastered from the original analog tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and packaged by Stoughton Printing Co. in high-quality gatefold sleeves with tip-on jackets. The releases are supervised by Chad Kassem, CEO of Acoustic Sounds, the world’s largest source for audiophile recordings.

Mastered by Bernie Grundman from the original analog tapes
180-gram LPs pressed at Quality Record Pressings!
Stoughton Printing gatefold old-style tip-on jackets
Series supervised by Chad Kassem CEO of Acoustic Sounds