If so then I sho as hell don't hear from you guys!








I was reading his autography book "Music Is My Mistress" the other night while playing his sides from 1935 to 40.

I know how folks ramble about him being a massive band leader(no doubt!) but I don't get why one 4get his piano playing, how could somebody overlook that esp after hearing the "Duke Ellington & John Coltrane" album?

Anyway ya'll,,,,,gimmie some "titles" you dig from the man!

U know I'm a huge Duke fan Harle
My favourite album is Money Jungle with Charlie Mingus
& Max Roach.That is 1 funky album!
1 of the most beutiful melodies ever written I feel is the
everlasting wonderful Solitude.
/peace Manki

OMG get out of my head, Manki

Thats my FAVE too(along with his collaporation album with Coltrane). I'm glad that folks know that there're MORE life in Duke's music than his "Live At Newport" live album(Which is one of my FAVE live albums but I resent how some think that its his BEST simply cuz its his best-selling one).

Ok, my ULTIMATE Duke Ellington tune is "Reminiscing In Tempo" which is a tribute to his mother who died at the time right b4 this piece was released/recorded(1935 I think). He credits this song for "deserting the jungle music and doing adventurous music", you probably wouldn't hear of Solitude if it weren't for that piece.

I was about to say girl...you sho as hell weren't gonna have a "fan of John Wayne" thread up in here!!

manki said:

That's the only album of Duke's that I have and I like it, but forreal I don't know how to navigate his career.

FiveFootNine said:

Vashti, you're one sssssick gemini

CinisterCee said:

Thats quite understandable, basically MOST of his compilations are worthy but his richest & MOST prolific period is the whole 30's to 1945 IMHO and they're most available on records & CDS.

I don't think you'll have a hard time tracking his music. Good start tho!

There's just way too many, but a few favorites:
I Got It Bad
Mood Indigo
(both of the above with Louis Armstrong)

Caravan
Fleurette Africaine
Solitude
Satin Doll
Meditation (from Second Sacred Concert)

Another nice release that showcases Ellington's piano skills is a trio setting called...

...Piano In The Foreground

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

What is the BEST DVD title about Duke? There're so many and I don't know where to start!

Harlepolis said:

Tell me about it. Don't have a clue as to what's the best.

While I don't have any yet, based on the subject matter and material, these are the ones i'm going after 1st.

A documentary called...

...On the Road with Duke Ellington


Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts


The Intimate Duke Ellington

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

Duke Ellington was one of the greatest ever composers.

I've seen On the road with Duke Ellington
& it focus on the great musicians he was surrounded by in his
big band most of his career.Most of them played with Duke 4
about 50 years.Constantly out on the road,
& when Duke passed away in 1974,just the following year
most of his old bandmates passed away 2.
/peace Manki

Duke is the man! I've got 'The Far East Suite' and am really getting into it. After that, I've got the 'New Orleans Suite' and the 'Afro Eurasian Eclipse'. Ellington was unique. A beautiful piano player and a great bandleader/composer/co-composer (nobody should forget Billy Strayhorn's contribution to the Duke's music). He always moved with the times while still being his Ducal self.

On 'Money Jungle' (the track), I always think Mingus is trying to wind up/ wake up Ellington with his near cacophonous bass playing, as if saying 'You're with the new school now, old man. Can you keep up?' But the Duke wins through.

I must get 'Piano in the Foreground'.

Miles said:

Ha!,yeah! Nobody could outplay Duke,& that what's so cool on this album
cuz he's playing is so funky on this 1.
U mentioned his collaborator Billy Strayhorn & then I must add the album

And his mother called him Bill that was a tribute 2him after he had
lost his friend.The last track is incredibly beautiful.That song is called
Lotus blossom ,written by Strayhorn.Hearing Ellington play this
is the ultimate tribute 2 his friend.
/peace Manki

I think the case can be made, and has, that Duke is the greatest artist in American Music. I myself have more Duke than anyone else by far and am still looking for so much more. I still don't have:

In the Uncommon Market
Blues in Orbit
A Drum is a Woman
Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
New Orleans Suite
The Three Ellington Suites
Any concert albums other than "Newport"
And so many others

I must say I love Money Jungle and with John Coltrane, but I'll always go back to the true Duke sound with his orhestra. If only John or Mingus had been willing to dissolve themselves into his band on one of those records.

Btw, I have two different recordings of the far easte suite, one by the duke's band, one by another brown's asian american orchestra.

Duke Ellington helped introduce me to the world of jazz, and is its greatest composer. He and Billy Strayhorn were one of the greatest songwriting/composing duos in the history of American music. His versatility was astounding. His influence remains strong. His work is timeless. What else can one say?

My favorite compositions are Caravan (I'm still sure Prince stole the riff from Rave Un2, the Max, and that instrumental from Small Club from this) and the Black, Brown and Biege Suite.

oh my god, there are sooooo many!

a couple of songs spring to mind, that were not mentioned in here and would rank very high in my all time top 100 list...

In a Mellow Tone
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Take the A-Train

Have you ever heard Ella singing Duke Ellington's "I Like The Sunrise" (from his "Liberian Suite")? I Love That Piece!

psykosoul said:

Psyko, you got some helluva pair of ears brotha :lol

Actualy, he ripped a horn-section's RIFF line from "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" for "If I Had A Harem".

Now Caravan? Common used that shit for his "Jimi Was A Rock Star".

Anyway, what do you guys think of his "Piano Reflections" album?

whille ya was at the pandarose i was rapping to the beat

da ha ha ha da ha ha ha ha ha.


oppps my bad wrong duke

I had to bump this,,,,



Saw that DVD, great pick. But short!

One of the highlight of the show is his sacred Concerts segment where he pre4med "In The Begining God".

When did he start doing his sacred concerts?

Sure, Duke Ellington was the man.

"Sophistcated Lady", "Take The A Train", "Satin Doll", etc. Believe it or not, his music is the ultimate chill-out music.

NWF said:

You do think that? Whoa lol to me sometimes I feel like I'm about to catch the holy spirit when I listen to him.

Harlepolis said:

Well to me his music can be very relaxing. I'm sure it's not like that with every song of his, but the ones I've heard are very mellow.
[Edited 10/10/04 11:30am]

NWF said:

Ok I get ya lol just trying yo leg there