#dukeellington

It rarely gets better than a Duke Ellington soundie. This is “C Jam Blues” from the 1942 “Jam Session” soundie (https://youtu.be/gOlpcJhNyDI?is=f-Rrb__3-oFwoCdO) In 2001 it was selected by the United States Library of Congress for the National Film Registry #RetroView #DukeEllington #jazz

Colors In Rhythm by Mercer Ellington And His Orchestra , released on Coral in 1959. One of the few full band albums ever recorded by Mercer Ellington – a strong 50s session that features work by Billy Strayhorn, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Hamilton, and other luminaries from the Duke Ellington group. Arrangements are by Jones, Ellington, Dick Vance, and Luther Henderson – and the tunes have a rich tonal quality that well lives up to the "colors" in the title. Titles include "Coral Rock", "Black & Tan Fantasy", "Aqua Tonic", "Little White Lies", "Golden Cress", "Azure", "Blue Serge", and "Dawn Of A Greenhorn" - Dusty Groove https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA4465-T_Rk&list=RDsA4465-T_Rk&start_radio=1 #MercerEllington #Jazz #BigBand #DukeEllington #Music #Swing #BillyStrayhorn #CatAnderson

The Peaceful Side is an album by pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn recorded in Paris in 1961 and originally released on United Artists Jazz in 1963.. On All About Jazz, Joel Roberts noted, "This is a quiet, spare recording featuring just Strayhorn's piano with occasional accompaniment by bass, string quartet, or vocal chorus. Strayhorn brings out all the passion and melancholy of his own compositions, which are performed in much more relaxed tempos than we are used to hearing. ... It is a shame that Strayhorn did not record more, since he brought the same extraordinary musical intelligence and sophistication to his piano playing that he did to his composing." - Wikipedia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALuBvw1_VAc&list=RDALuBvw1_VAc&start_radio=1 #BillyStrayhorn #DukeEllington #Jazz #Music

Stepping Into Swing Society (Songs Composed By Duke And Mercer Ellington) by Mercer Ellington, released in 1959 on Coral. £Until Stepping into Swing Society, by Mercer Ellington's orchestra, was released in 1959, many jazz fans were scarcely aware that Duke had a talented son with a career of his own. Billy Strayhorn, Wendell Marshall, and John Sanders worked for Mercer before their jobs with Duke. His next album, Colors in Rhythm, along with its predecessor, were Mercers definitive introduction as a band-leader. The arrangements here are by such Ellington disciples as Mercer, Luther Henderson, Dick Vance, Andy Gibson Jimmy Hamilton, Billy Strayhorn, and Jimmy Jones...." Fresh Sounds Records https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX35kw9j6v8&list=RDuX35kw9j6v8&start_radio=1 #MercerEllington #DukeEllington #BigBand #Swing #Jazz #Music