Ellington is just the thing to warm me

John Pinamonti, writing on the Smokebox Web site, describes the DUKE ELLINGTON ORCHESTRA of the late 1930s and early 1940s as one of those things that is "just plain brilliant."
"This group is best known for the pioneering work of bassist Jimmy Blanton and the great tenor sax of Ben Webster, hence it's often referred to as 'The Blanton/Webster Band,'" Pinamonti writes. "Everybody in this band was exceptional, and it is probably the best crew that Duke ever assembled during his long career."
I have been listening to the three-disc "BLANTON WEBSTER BAND" compilation for the past two days. It is truly remarkable.
Writing about a later reissue of this set, Larry Appelbaum wrote in Jazz Times:
"Almost every track in this collection is a gem that bears repeated listening -- from the super-swingers 'Main Stem,' 'Jack the Bear' and 'C Jam Blues' to the harmonically daring 'Ko-Ko.'"
I was drawn to this music this week because it always seems to warm me, and the sudden arrival of full-fledged AUTUMN and its chill took be by surprise.
Good thing there's 66 Ellington masterpieces on this compilation. I think I am going to need a lot of warming.