Dizzy Gillespie recorded this album as a tribute to Duke Ellington, one of his greatest influences. The sessions took place in 1960 and were produced by Norman Granz for Verve Records.
The album features arrangements by Clare Fischer, who orchestrated Ellington's compositions for an ensemble including brass, woodwinds, and rhythm. Gillespie performs iconic pieces such as 'Take the 'A' Train' and 'Sophisticated Lady' with his characteristic bebop style.
Although not one of Gillespie's most commercial records, 'A Portrait of Duke Ellington' is valued by critics as a demonstration of his respect for jazz tradition and his ability to merge Ellington's harmonic sophistication with his own virtuosic energy.