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Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl was the first recorded jazz concert at the prestigious Los Angeles outdoor venue. It was a prime example of jazz elevated to the concert stage, a concept developed by Norman Granz - record producer, label owner, artist manager and the foremost jazz promoter in the world. It was recorded August 15, 1956, the year Granz established Verve Records, and featured some of Verve's greatest talent: Ella Fitzgerald, Art Tatum, the Oscar Peterson Trio, et al.

Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl was issued as a 2-LP set back then but, incredibly, had never been released on CD until now, 55 years after its original release. Available on 2 CDs, this Verve Select edition of Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl now includes 11 previously unreleased Louis Armstrong recordings: Armstrong had been heard on the original 2-LP set in two duets with Ella but the trumpeter's full set could not be included on the original LP. The album now has all of the songs performed that night and the show has been restored to its original running order - on the original LP Granz had to alter the sequencing in order to stay within time constraints for vinyl albums.

Other highlights from the set, besides Armstrong and his All Star Orchestra are: an outstanding jam session featuring Flip Phillips, Illinois Jacquet, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Roy Eldridge backed by Buddy Rich and the Oscar Peterson Trio with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown; Art Tatum, utterly captivating with just his hands on the piano keys; Peterson's Trio's brief but musically telepathic set; Ella, just entering the full flower of her remarkable career; and the swinging finale with the entire ensemble.

Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl is in a digi-pak with a faithful reproduction of the original artwork, more artists photos, detailed annotations and a new essay by jazz producer and historian Bob Porter.