


These days, you can find an updated release with the full live performance, as well as recorded tracks from a few days after, but that performance will go down in history as one of the all-time greats. He played both new songs and classics at the show, but the record only included 5 tracks upon release. Performed live at the Newport Jazz Festival, Ellington confirmed that he was still at the top of his game despite all the new kids joining in. He had been making classic swing jazz since the 30s, so when all the new kids were switching things up and innovating, the question was, “Can Duke keep up?”Įllington at Newport was a resounding yes to that question. Duke Ellington - Ellington at NewportĪlthough the biggest jazz boom we’d see came in the late 50s and 60s, Duke Ellington was in the game long before that. These are our opinions, so don’t take it as stone-cold fact, but we think you’d be hard-pressed to argue with any of these making it into the list.ġ0. Here are our top 10 best jazz albums of all time. Sometimes you know exactly where the journey’s headed, but most of the time your guide takes you through tons of twists and turns you never expected, leaving you pleasantly surprised when you get back home.

Listening to a jazz record is like being taken on a journey, with the musicians as your guide. It’s arguably more polarizing than most, but once you understand why jazz-lovers love it, you’ll be changed for life.
