All four soloists plus drummer Kyle Poole contribute to this high-energy rendition of Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol's exotic standard, taken at a blazing 277 BPM — the fastest tempo of the first half. The 64-bar AABA form is the longest structure in the program, and at this speed each chorus is a substantial journey. Brecker leads with two choruses on trumpet, Lefkowitz-Brown follows with three on tenor, Cohen adds three on piano, and Poole takes two choruses of drum solo. The swing-feel interpretation at this extreme tempo gives the tune a different character from the Latin-groove treatments more commonly heard. Tizol composed the piece around 1936 while playing valve trombone in Ellington's orchestra, and its distinctive minor-key melody has made it one of the most recognizable jazz compositions ever written. The five-soloist format and extended runtime create a collective blowing session that builds on the energy established by the preceding Straight, No Chaser.
