The album 'Duke Ellington & John Coltrane' was recorded on September 26, 1962 at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The session brought together legendary composer and pianist Duke Ellington with saxophonist John Coltrane, in a meeting between two jazz giants from different generations.
The repertoire includes Ellington compositions such as 'In a Sentimental Mood' and 'Take the Coltrane', the latter written specifically for the session. Coltrane contributed 'Big Nick', an original piece. The production was handled by Bob Thiele, and the album was released in 1963 by Impulse! Records.
The collaboration was praised by critics for the chemistry between the two musicians, although some purists noted stylistic differences. The album reached number 11 on the Billboard jazz albums chart and is considered a classic of modal jazz and swing.