JAZZ: A BRIEF HISTORY

RECENTLY, ONE OF MY SONS ASKED THE OTHER, "HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LISTENED TO THELONIOUS MONK?" 

Duke Ellington - La Plus Belle Africaine - 1969

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - Berlin - 1969

La Plus Belle Africaine - (The Beautiful African Flower)

Black Beauty featuring Johnny Hodges

Duke Ellington in Concert - 1958

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra - 1958

Black and Tan Fantasy, Creole Love Call and The Mooche 

Billy Strayhorn rides his own A Train

The relationship between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, his alter ego and musical partner,  is complex and fascinating and worthy of further study. Curiously, or perhaps not for one disinclined towards the limelight, there is precious little actual footage of Mr. Strayhorn in performance.  Here is one in which he performs the Ellington signature tune and Strayhorn composition, Take the A Train. 

25 years aboard the Night Train: tracing the roots of a riff

25 years aboard the Night Train or tracing the roots of a riff. 

Duke Ellington and his Orchestra 1942

Duke Ellington and  the fellas perform C-Jam Blues until a very suave Duke scoops the gals and  makes his get away. MTV had nothing on these guys.

It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

Take the A Train

David Danced Before the Lord. Duke Ellington wrote the music

"Every man prays in his own language and there is no language that God does not understand". - Duke Ellington

An excerpt from Duke Ellington's First Sacred Concert featuring Bunny Briggs tapping and Jon Hendricks scatting.

1965

Duke Ellington Rides the A Train

Take the "A" Train (1943) 

The Mooche - Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

I don't know what it is about The Mooche, but whenever I hear it, I just go crazy!!

Things Ain't What They Used To Be and that's a very good thing

"At least one day each year, all musicians should put their instruments down and give thanks to Duke Ellington." - Miles Davis

Satin Doll

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

VIP Boogie and Jamming With Sam

Duke, Willie the Lion and Billy Taylor swing Perdido

Duke, Willie the Lion and Billy "What's his name again?"Taylor swing Perdido

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra live and in color 1962

Duke and The Orchestra jamming with Duke commentating (1962)

Take the A Train

Satin Doll