Each musician in his band had two functions—to be able to play ... The rise of swing and jazz's sophisticated elegance starts with Duke Ellington. His first recordings were with Wilbur Sweatman and ...

Duke Ellington hired many excellent bass players but only two who were great. The first was Jimmy Blanton. In the short time he was with the band--from 1939-1941--he transformed the bass into a front ...

This year marks 125 years since the birth of jazz legend Duke Ellington. The bandleader ... to New York City and into a long-time gig as a band leader at the Cotton Club in Harlem during segregation.

For a score of years, while “kings” of jazz and swing have succeeded each other with Balkan rapidity, a “Duke” has exhibited most of the real majesty from beside the throne. So last week ...

Duke Ellington and the sixteen other men in his jazz band are rather surprised at the research that has been expended on bringing to light the drunks, hangovers, and frolics of their youth.

he is a composer of jazz music and the leader of a jazz band. For over twenty-three years, Duke, christened Edward Kennedy Ellington, has spent his days and nights on trains rattling across the ...

Ellington is quoted in the book “Duke Ellington’s America ... Still, at Essentially Ellington, an annual high school big-band festival organized by Jazz at Lincoln Center and held over ...

They inspired Duke to the heights of creativity ... of our signature education program Essentially Ellington, a high school jazz band program and national festival that has distributed nearly ...

This song served as the band’s signature tune and an ode ... Finish story here; 10 Essential Duke Ellington Jazz Songs to Celebrate Black History Month.

Composer Duke Ellington poses for a portrait at the piano ... education program Essentially Ellington, a high school jazz band program and national festival that has distributed nearly 400,000 ...