The Duke, and not the cowboy one, either

Duke Ellington

Next up in our list of candidates for the October 25th You Be the Judge! concert is a medley of hits by Duke Ellington. Arranged by Calvin Custer, the medley includes Don't Get Around Much Anymore; Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me; Sophisticated Lady and It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington, DC on April 29,1899 and died in New York City on May 24,1974. Ellington's career spanned more than 50 years and included the musical genres of jazz, blues, gospel, film, popular and classical.

Ellington called his music "American Music" rather than jazz. Much of his success in jazz may be attributed to his writing partner, Billy Strayhorn. Ellington's eloquence and charisma helped to elevate jazz to an accepted art form on par with other genres of music. Seeing himself as a composer and arranger, rather than just a musician, also brought a seriousness to his music.

At seven, Ellington began the piano with Marietta Clinkscales. It was from Ms Clinkscales and other dignified women that Ellington learned manners and elegant living. His friends noticed his graceful manner and dapper way of dressing and gave him the title "Duke".

Duke began to play piano professionally in 1917. His piano style was influenced by stride piano players (a style which evolved from ragtime, where the left hand of the piano played the bass and offbeats). In 1922, he began a long history of playing in New York City. His first group, The Washingtonians, worked at The Hollywood Club in Manhattan (later called the Kentucky Club). Trumpet player Bubber Miley joined the band and began to use a plunger mute in a distinctive way (yes, the rubber end of a bathroom plunger!). The sound began to be known as the "Jungle Sound" and catipulted Ellington to early success.

The band didn't really hit the big time until Irving Mills became their manager and publisher in 1926. The following year, the band debuted Black and Tan Fantasy and Creole Love Call, which Ellington performed to the end of his career. Ellington's orchestra became the house band at the Cotton Club. Radio broadcasts of his club shows brought the money necessary for Ellington to hire the best available musicians, which enabled him to compose more challenging music.

Ellington left the Cotton Club in 1931 for a US and European tour. In the 1930s, Ellington transitioned to Swing music with his It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) -- a defining composition of the Swing Era.  The '40s and '50s brought jazz standards like Take the "A" Train, Perdido, The "C" Jam Blues and Satin Doll.  His son, Mercer, took over the band after Ellington's death.

Listen to Custer's Ellington medley.

Watch Ellington's 1943 performance of It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing). Notice that the brass players are using plungers.

(Information for this blog came from RedHotJazz.com)