Whether it’s Monk, Coltrane, or Miles—they all held Duke Ellington in the highest regard. This is a masterful performance featuring extended arrangements of classic songs from 1951, such as “Moog Indigo” and “Sophisticated Lady,” each running over 10 minutes. It’s a slow swing that’s absolutely brimming with danceable energy. Thanks in part to the remastering, the sound structure woven by the elite professional orchestra of that era is so perfect—almost avant-garde in its perfection—that audiophiles who haven’t heard it before are sure to be amazed. 24-bit digitally remastered. Even though this music is over half a century old, it hasn’t aged a bit—it’s the ultimate in entertainment. (Original Japanese text by Saito)