Ellington was born in Washington. D.C. on April 29, 1899, when the nation's capital had the largest Black population of any American city. It was at the height of segregation and since Black people were relegated to densely populated neighborhoods, they developed their own clubs, cultural organizations, commerce and especially churches. His father. James Edward Ellington (affectionately called "J.E.") made blueprints for the United States Navy worked as a butler for a prominent D.C. physician and occasionally "moonlighted" at the White House as a caterer. His mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington, a high school graduate (a rare achievement at that time) was a homemaker who projected a refined manner and taught him how to live elegantly. Both of Ellington's parents played the piano; she would ...
The music of jazz legend Duke Ellington will be featured Sunday at the next Topeka Jazz Workshop Inc. Concert Series show when famed Los Angeles pianist presents "An Afternoon with Ellington. Joined by Kansas City jazz players Tommy Ruskin on drums and Gerald Spaits on bass, Howe will from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday in Regency Ballroom of the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th, perform what one critic called "an extraordinarily fine tribute that gets to the core truths of the songs while giving those truths new perspectives -- Ellington done with a deft mix of reverence and innovation."
It's high time, [Mercedes Ellington] believes, for more people to embrace jazz music in America. It's the one musical style that the country can completely call it's own. "I think that jazz or American music, as Duke described it, is American folk music," she said. "It contains a lot of the flavors of the cultures that have come to America. It's like a melting pot of everyone's contribution to rhythm, to tonality, to a lot of things. Mercedes knows that her grandfather left a "lot of things" to choose from if she ever decided to work a Dukerelated project. She proceeds with caution. "If I took up a [Duke Ellington] project for the rest of my life, I wouldn't finish. I wouldn't even make a dent," she said, giggling. "I have to be very careful what I choose to do because you only have so...
Bolero was followed by "The Essential Ellington," a montage of [Duke Ellington] favorites compiled by Jeff Tyzik that includes "A" Train, Satin Doll, Things Ain't What They Used to Be, and Come Sunday. Come Sunday was sung by the gorgeous Mezzo-Soprano Malesha Jessie. Her rendition was described by one patron as "so beautiful I nearly wept. Sister was bad! The fifth movement - David Danced - featured world-renowned dancer Charming Holmes who "tore the house down!" as he danced as David. The final movement - Praise God and Dance - started with a review of Ellington favorites, brought back Miss Jessie for a final time, and featured Danniell Kyle and Abu-Bakarr Fofanah as African Dancers, Tequiles Celestin and Earl Moore, Jr., as Waltz Dancers, Alexandria Galloway and Kristina Garrett as ...
In the 1930s, he recorded "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" and "Echoes of Harlem" featuring [Cootie Williams]. In 1937, after breaking off his partnership with living Mills, Billy Strayhorn came to New York to work with Duke. He called when he arrived in town and asked, "How do I get to your house from the train station?" Duke replied, "Take the A train." As a result a new favorite song was born. Duke composed a portion of "Beggar's Holiday" during one his stays there. And always being the perfect gentleman, during the holidays he would perform for the hotel employees. Duke had a catchphrase, "How sweet it is." That was one of his ways of greeting. John White, owner of the hotel, had a beautiful oil painting of Ellington in Suite 805. [...] hopefully, I will be able t...
The [Duke Ellington] Orchestra started under the name The Washingtonians in 1923. After a brief stint as Duke Ellington and his Kentucky Club Orchestra, they changed their name to Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. The Orchestra gained nation-wide exposure through weekly radio broadcasts from the Cotton Club from 1927-1930. Upon Duke's death in 1974, his son, Mercer Ellington,- took over as bandleader and continued in his father's tradition.
Duke Ellington is certainly no stranger to even the most casual jazz listeners. His output of compositions is a trove of jazz standards, big band classics, and even symphonic works that continue to dazzle listeners and inspire contemporary artists. Yet, a few of Ellington's most personal and heartfelt creations have remained virtually unknown for decades now. Few know that Ellington wrote three "sacred concerts," large- scale jazz compositions that featured his jazz orchestra, a gospel choir, vocal soloists and even dancers (think of Handel's "Messiah," but with Ellington's musical language). Even fewer people have heard this music, which is not available in print. The recordings of the sacred concerts are rare, and mostly constitute Ellington's own live performances, available in the 2...
Key reviews Dvorak to Duke Ellington: A Conductor Explores Ameica's Music and Its African American Roots by Maurice Peress.
With bold, vibrant colors and Mills' signature black and white scratchboard, his "Portraits in Jazz" collection pays homage to jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles Davis. His "African Heritage" collection portrays pioneering black men and women such as Marcus Garvey and Martin Luther King Jr., who, Mills said in the exhibit's catalog, depicted "the strength, beauty and dreams deferred of my people. A medical illustrator for more than 20 years, Mills had a nearly six-decade career spanning numerous exhibitions, awards and recognitions. He gained local notoriety for painting "The Wall of History," a mural that marks the east entrance to the Sistrunk Boulevard corridor in downtown Fort Laudezdale. He also painted a panel in the project, "A Day...
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