The lyrics in this section refer to Ellington’s famously eclectic taste, comparing his love to a “Schubert tune with a Gershwin touch”. "Art is dangerous. Find Duke Ellington song information on AllMusic. Thanks for checking out this countdown of 10 of the best Duke Ellington songs of all time. Roché, who was 81 when she died on 16 February 1999, worked regularly with Ellington. Records.. With its opening dominant chord, which is sustained for 12 bars at a time, “Caravan”, from 1936, arguably anticipates the static harmony of the modal jazz revolution that was to come in the late 1950s and early ‘60s. Ellington described it as “the expression of a sentiment which prevailed among jazz musicians at the time.”. About Duke Ellington. At 15, whilst working as a soda dispenser, he wrote “Soda Fountain Rag”, despite the fact that he could not yet read music. Tizol was from Peurto Rico and brought a Latin influence to the Orchestra, with other compositions of his including “Perdido”, “Jubilesta” and “Conga Brava”. Seller 99.9% positive. It is one of the attractions: when it ceases to be dangerous you don't want it." Tracks of Disc 1; $0.99 on iTunes 1. This song of unrequited love was long associated with saxophonist Johnny Hodges, whose vibrato-laden lead alto tone is a classic sound in big band jazz. Duke Ellington covered When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You), Love Scene, Sam and Delilah, Take the "A" Train and other songs. VINYL LP 1967 REPRISE RECORDS THE MOOCH, PYRAMID. Clarinettist Barney Bigard was the clarinet soloist on the original recording and gets a credit as co-composer. After the Carnegie Hall performance received negative reviews, Ellington reworked the suite and re-recorded much of the material on a 1958 album of the same name featuring Mahalia Jackson, civil rights activist and ‘the Queen of Gospel’. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining sampler. (A second version of the piece was a chart entry on Victor in March 1932.) “Come Sunday”, a beautiful, spiritual-style ballad, is one of the key themes of the piece’s first movement. O.C. The most famous of these is “C Jam Blues”. Learn how your comment data is processed. Duke Ellington showed musical talent from an early age, although he was not initially convinced that music was his calling. Skip to main content. “Satin Doll” was written with Billy Strayhorn, who was Ellington’s close collaborator for … Duke Ellington's songs: Listen to songs by Duke Ellington on Myspace, Stream Free Online Music by Duke Ellington He described it as “a parallel to the history of the Negro in America.”. Try Prime EN Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Returns … Genre: Jazz. Ellington wrote an ambitious three-part suite called Black, Brown and Beige – the sort of extended work usually tackled by classical, rather than jazz, composers – for his first concert at New York’s hallowed Carnegie Hall in January 1943. The song’s title was apparently a saying of trumpeter Bubber Miley, an early member of his Orchestra, who died of tuberculosis in 1932, the year of the song’s release. Duke Ellington originally did When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You), Sing You Sinners, Love Scene, Take the "A" Train and other songs. Later, having moved to New York and now leading his own band, he secured a residency playing for dancers at Harlem’s famous Cotton Club, which he held between 1926 and 1931. “my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brain waves in his head, and his in mine”. Ellington used the tune as the closing number on most of his concerts, and described Strayhorn as “my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head, my brain waves in his head, and his in mine”. The band started in New York City under name of the Washingtonians in 1923, they then briefly became known as Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra, then as Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra from 1927 to 1930. In honor of Black History Month, WISN 12 takes a look back at the life and legacy of Minnette "Satin Doll" Wilson. In fact, he is arguably one of America’s finest composers, regardless of genre. A major figure in the history of jazz music, Duke Ellington's career spanned more than half a century, during which time he composed thousands of songs … This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Add to Cart. Ellington led an earthshaking big band with musicians that helped shape jazz and his charts influenced countless arrangers.