Duke Ellington's brief tenure at Capitol Records (1953-55) is often dismissed by jazz historians who find fault with the sessions' lush, near-orchestral sound or who question the bandleader's decisions to re-record many of his '30s and '40s standards. However, neither criticism holds up. Ellington's 15-member band--featuring stalwarts Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, Paul Gonsalves and Harry Carney--plays with its usual brilliance, but producer Dave Dexter captures the orchestra with unusual warmth, creating a deep, radiant sound unusual forjazz. Re-recordings of Ellington classics like "Black and Tan Fantasy", "Caravan" and a ten-minute "It Don't Mean A Thing" (featuring a lengthy and inspired tenor improvisation byGonsalves) in new and often radically different arrangements are shown off to strong advantage in this new sonic ambience. THE BEST OF DUKE ELLINGTON is a long-overdue invitation to re-examine one of Ellington's most fruitful periods.