your favorite 3 Duke Ellington albums?


I need to explore his catalog deeper....not his best but your favorites to listen to.

My favorite 3 so far are:

Ellington meets Coleman Hawkins
First Time The Count Meets The Duke
Side by Side
mswobo
I'm not a big jazz fan, but enjoy the earlier Ellington stuff. Specifically these 2 cd's:

Swing Legends - 24 Classic Hits, Robert Parker series. 1920's to 1940.

Sophisticated Lady, Victor Jazz, 1940-46.

Both have excellent sound for the time period.
It's not "technically" Duke... but since you already like "Side by Side", you should hear "Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn's Orchestra.  It's one of my all-time favorites regardless of genre.  I see where it is available on a 2013 SACD release.  That should really be special!
Johnny Hodges and Strayhorn also one of my favorites.
If you haven't heard the Hodges recording "Everybody Knows", you
may want to check it out.  Same genre.  The orchestra, these
guys were pros, all on the same wavelength.  Simply wonderful music.