Metronome All-Stars 1956

Metronome All-Stars 1956 was the final album by the Metronome All-Stars, a loose amalgamation of musicians representing winners of Metronome magazine's annual poll. This 1956 release contains four tracks documenting the first collaboration between pianist/bandleader Count Basie and vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. The album was originally released on the Clef label in 1956.

Reception
AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "This would be the final recording by The Metronome All-Stars (a series that started in the late '30s) and the music on this LP still sounds exciting and joyful".

Track listing

 * 1) "Billie's Bounce" (Charlie Parker) – 20:30
 * 2) "April in Paris" (Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg) – 4:43
 * 3) "Every Day I Have the Blues" (Peter Chatman, William York) – 5:11
 * 4) "Party Blues" (Count Basie, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald) – 3:59
 * 5) "Basie's Back in Town" (Ernie Wilkins) – 3:16
 * 6) "Lady Fair" (George Wallington) – 2:55
 * Recorded at Fine Sound in New York City on June 18 (tracks 1 & 6), June 25 (tracks 2–4) and June 27 (track 5), 1956

Personnel

 * Ella Fitzgerald (tracks 2, 3 & 4), Joe Williams (tracks 3 & 4) – vocals
 * Count Basie (tracks 2–5), Billy Taylor (track 1), George Wallington (track 6) – piano
 * Wendell Culley (tracks 2, 3 & 5), Reunald Jones (tracks 2, 3 & 5), Thad Jones (tracks 1–5), Joe Newman (tracks 2–5) – trumpet
 * Eddie Bert (track 1), Henry Coker (tracks 2–5), Bill Hughes (tracks 2, 3 & 5), Benny Powell (tracks 2, 3 & 5) – trombone
 * Marshall Royal – alto saxophone, clarinet (tracks 2, 3 & 5)
 * Tony Scott – clarinet (track 1)
 * Bill Graham (tracks 2, 3 & 5), Lee Konitz (track 1) – alto saxophone
 * Frank Wess – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute (tracks 2–5)
 * Al Cohn (track 1), Frank Foster (tracks 2, 3 & 5), Zoot Sims (track 1) – tenor saxophone
 * Serge Chaloff (track 1), Charlie Fowlkes (tracks 2, 3 & 5) – baritone saxophone
 * Teddy Charles – vibraphone (track 1)
 * Tal Farlow (track 1), Freddie Green (tracks 2–5) – guitar
 * Eddie Jones (tracks 2–5), Charles Mingus (track 1) – bass
 * Art Blakey (track 1), Sonny Payne (tracks 2–5) – drums
 * Ralph Burns (tracks 2 & 3), Wild Bill Davis (track 2), Ernie Wilkins (track 5) – arranger