200gm vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve. Originally intended as a studio booking where Duke Ellington was to record some recent compositions upon he and his band's return from a live stint in Florida, the date soon grew exponentially into an all-out welcome home party of Ellington admirers. Issued on Columbia in 1959, Jazz Party In Stereo is distinct in the Duke Ellington oeuvre in that not only does it feature an extremely rare appearance by Dizzy Gillespie (in addition to Jimmy Rushing, Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry and Paul Gonsalves), but it also includes two numbers with a total of nine percussionists in all on various instruments such as timpani, vibes, marimbas and xylophone. A party indeed and by the looks of the historic roll call, everybody was invited! Malletoba Spank, Red Garter, Red Shoes, Red Carpet, Ready Go!, U.M.M.G., All of Me, Tymperturbably Blue, Hello Little Girl
