Incandescent composer, modernizer, and charismatic voodoo dandy_ Duke Ellington was a larger-than-life character whose impact on jazz history was revolutionary. Also a fi ne pianist, Duke's arranging skills were so great that his main instrument was in fact the orchestra, for which he wrote many major works as well as settings for some of the greatest soloists. This 2CD set was recorded in Paris during Duke's historic European tour in 1958 and, with music unavailable for a long time, this is part of the legacy of one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. Patrick FREMEAUX The Live in Paris collection by Michel BrilliE allows listeners to hear previously-unreleased recordings (made at concerts and private- or radio-sessions) by the great 20th stars in jazz, rock & roll and song. These "live" takes, and the artists' rapport with their audiences, gives these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings. Particular care was taken when restoring the sound of these tapes in order to meet CD standards while preserving the original colours of the period. Patrick FREMEAUX & Gilles PETARD