You'd be forgiven for thinking the label is running out of Essential Jazz Classics (that also happen to be out of copyright) when the booklet actually quotes a review describing this as, “more a curiosity piece than an essential recording”. All of the original 2LP set was only released in the late 1970s, having been taped at a private Columbia function to celebrate the release of Milestones, Duke's At The Bal Masqué and Lady In Satin, Billie's brief appearance being squeezed onto the Ellington album. The sound is documentary quality and, wisely, Duke re-recorded the new music and the collaboration with Rushing on his subsequent Jazz Party In Stereo. But there are fascinating moments if you choose to listen for them, including an obvious head-arrangement behind Rushing with Clark Terry setting spontaneous riffs. Most intriguing is the 41 minutes with Miles' famous group doing four favourites from their standard repertoire, including ‘My Funny Valentine’ with Bill Evans and an ‘If I Were A Bell’ in which the resurgent Coltrane plays more notes more quickly than on any other record. Bonus material comes from contemporary airshots (Garland replacing Evans) and, in Duke's case, a European concert. Far from essential, but great nevertheless.