03.01.08
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington, 1899-1974, is without a doubt among the greats of music, not simply of jazz. Probably the most prolific composer of the 20th century, he also kept his band going long after most jazz bands had folded because of the changing musical scene. He was also technically advanced—not just in music, but in recording technology. He studied and experimented and knew more about microphone placement than many sound engineers. (This is one reason his early recordings sound so much better in audio terms than those recorded by others.) He also was able to visualize (audialize?) unusual ways of matching musical timbres, the first version of Mood Indigo being a prime example. And he was a masterful pianist—try to score a CD of his solo tracks.
Your library will surely have a great selection of his music, and you owe it to yourself to listen to a lot of it, over and over. Following is just a sampling.
Satin Doll
It Don’t Mean A Thing, 1943
Symphony in Black
Take the A Train, 1969, Cootie Williams playing a solo
Perdido: Duke Ellington, Willie “The Lion” Smith, and Billy Taylor
Mood Indigo
and here Mood Indigo begins with that original mix of muted trombone, muted trumpet, and clarinet in a 1943 performance that includes Sophisticated Lady:
C-Jam Blues, 1942
Man, I could go on and on. Do a Youtube search on “Duke Ellington” and knock yourself out.
