Show Notes
In 1967, the west African nation of Togo released a postage stamp of Duke Ellington. Ellington reciprocated by writing the four movement Togo Brava Suite in 1971, the subject of this month’s episode of Ellington Reflections. Continue reading →
More from Ellington Reflections
The versatile trumpeter Barrie Lee Hall, Jr. was one of the last musicians hired by Duke Ellington in 1973. Continue reading →
Sidney Bechet briefly played with Ellington in the mid-1920s. They never recorded together, but Bechet played Ellington music throughout his career. Continue reading →
A 95th Birthday salute to guitarist, educator and Ellington advocate Kenny Burrell Continue reading →
The Ellington band’s State Department tour in the fall of 1963 provided the inspiration for the pieces he and Billy Strayhorn composed that was originally titled “Impressions of the Far East” and later retitled the far east suite. Continue reading →
Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.). The Duke Ellington Society refers to these songs as “the usual suspects.” While they are worthy of their status as standards, Ellington wrote thousands of compositions; there is plenty of his oeuvre that is ripe for exploration! Continue reading →