Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges -- SIDE BY SIDE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NgvXbwi4lI
The liner notes in the booklet are just as fascinating as the music itself. Gives good insight into the workings of the Ellington Band.
Clark Terry who was a band member for 8 years, said the only rehearsals he could recall were for new material prior to recording sessions.
Stop smiling O-10. The reason for this was the gifted players in the Band, and the many years they had played together.
*****A lot of the music was never committed fully and accurately to score paper. A case in point was the experience of saxophonist bill Perkins, who was booked to take part in an Ellington Tribute concert at which he would play the baritone. "I looked forward to playing those marvelous Harry Carney parts", remarked Perkins prior to the first rehearsal, only to find out later that they did not exist. At best, Ellington's musicians would be provided with just skeletal scores, little more than a melody line.......***
I don't quite understand all that, but it seems like you had to be ready to play with Ellington.
Listen to the entire LP. Great stuff.
Cheers