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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 →

Five Ellington related books, all published by University Press of Mississippi. Continue reading →

A birthday salute to Duke Ellington featuring Brian Priestley, Brian Landrus and the Planet D Nonet performing rarely covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →

“The Magazine Suite is an entirely new three-part composition. The band played it a few more times in 1945 and 1946 but never thereafter. It is remarkable how many Ellington compositions were allowed to sink without trace like this, suggesting that … Continue reading →

"The Latin American Suite," from 1968 showed that despite advancing age and the recent death of his writing partner Billy Strayhorn, there was no end in Ellington's creativity. Continue reading →

A look at the years Mercer Ellington led the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1974 to 1996). Continue reading →

Part II of Portrait of Mercer Ellington, composer, arranger, trumpeter - and drummer... Continue reading →

Happy Birthday, Duke!  Duke Ellington was born on this date 125 years ago. Today also marks the 7th anniversary for podcast/blog Ellington Reflections.  I’m currently editing my Cootie Williams biography and securing the necessary image permissions, so it may … Continue reading →

Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington, is an underrated contributor to the world of Ellingtonia. Continue reading →

“Jimmy Jones is a close member of our musical family. Outside of our original version, he and Toby Hardwick were the first to do “Come Sunday.” I have had many different associations with him, the most notable being when we … Continue reading →

Duke Ellington said of trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker that "his way of playing a melody was absolutely personal, and he had no bad notes at all." Continue reading →