While Count Basie and Glenn Miller might have been strong rivals during the Swing era, Duke Ellington led one of the classiest, most musical bands from the 1920s until his death in the early '70s. The Duke's music kept developing past the heyday of the big bands, and by the early '60s--the time of LONDON & NEW YORK--his band was at one of its all-time peaks. Along with the hits, GREAT CONCERTS features some of the Duke's most adventurous compositions ("Isfahan," "Little African Flower"). Legendary pre-Swing era pianist Willie "The Lion" Smith also guest-stars.