The album 'The Greatest Trumpet of Them All' was released in 1959 by Verve Records, produced by Norman Granz. The exact recording date is not documented with certainty, but sessions are estimated to have occurred between 1957 and 1959 in New York.
This record is a tribute to the trumpet tradition in jazz, with Gillespie performing standards and original compositions showcasing his technical and expressive mastery. The instrumentation varies between quartet and sextet, including musicians such as Wynton Kelly on piano and Paul Chambers on bass.
Although the title suggests a bold statement, the album was well received by critics for its interpretive quality. However, it did not become one of Gillespie's most iconic titles, possibly due to competition with other releases from the same period.