Duke Ellington: Black, Brown and Beige (live 1943)

Preserving Duke's Carnegie Hall debut (attended by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, no less), this 3-part, 45-minute masterwork is subtitled "A Tone Parallel to the History of the Negro in America." Only Ellington would dare such epic ambition, for only he could pull it off. With customary aplomb, Duke introduces each movement. Black, echoing familiar themes ("Just A Sittin' & A Rockin'," "Jump for Joy"), is highlighted by Nanton's plunger-muted trombone. Brown showcases Betty Roché's authoritative vocal. Beige provides a wide-ranging, uplifting conclusion. Audio is awful, but musically and historically this is an American cultural landmark. There's no tone parallel to Duke Ellington.