Amazon.com
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, "King of the Keys," was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. "He was a smooth-talkin', slick-steppin', piano-playin' kid," writes master wordsmith Andrea Pinkney in the rhythmic, fluid, swinging prose of this excellent biography for early readers. It was ragtime music that first "set Duke's fingers to wiggling." He got back to work and taught himself to "press on the pearlies." Soon 19-year-old Duke was playing compositions "smoother than a hairdo sleeked with pomade" at parties, pool halls, country clubs, and cabarets. Skipping from D.C. to 1920s Harlem, "the place where jazz music ruled," Duke and his small band called the Washingtonians began performing in New York City clubs, including the Cotton Club, where Duke Ellington and his Orchestra was officially born. By 1943, Duke Ellington--writer of more than 1000 compositions, including ballet and film scores, orchestral suites, musicals, and choral works--had made it all the way to Carnegie Hall.

We applaud this talented husband-and-wife team--award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney and writer Andrea Pinkney--for making music fly in this fantastic tribute to a jazz legend. Andrea does an extraordinary job of translating music into words, with blues "deeper than the deep blue sea" and "hot-buttered bob, with lots of sassy-cool tones," while her husband visually interprets the movement of music as spirals, waves, and swirls of color, prepared as scratchboard renderings with luma dyes, gouache, and oil paint. Andrea writes, "Toby let loose on his sleek brass sax, curling his notes like a kite tail in the wind. A musical loop-de-loop, with a serious twist," while Brian paints those curling notes, the loop-de-loops, and the kite sailing up to the New York City skyline. Young readers will enjoy the rhythm and beauty of the story itself, and may even be inspired to give Raffi a rest and swing with the Duke! (Great read-aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson, Amazon.com Kids editorBook Description
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, "King of the Keys," was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. "He was a smooth-talkin', slick-steppin', piano-playin' kid," writes master wordsmith Andrea Pinkney in the rhythmic, fluid, swinging prose of this excellent biography for early readers. It was ragtime music that first "set Duke's fingers to wiggling." He got back to work and taught himself to "press on the pearlies." Soon 19-year-old Duke was playing compositions "smoother than a hairdo sleeked with pomade" at parties, pool halls, country clubs, and cabarets. Skipping from D.C. to 1920s Harlem, "the place where jazz music ruled," Duke and his small band called the Washingtonians began performing in New York City clubs, including the Cotton Club, where Duke Ellington and his Orchestra was officially born. By 1943, Duke Ellington--writer of more than 1000 compositions, including ballet and film scores, orchestral suites, musicals, and choral works--had made it all the way to Carnegie Hall.We applaud this talented husband-and-wife team--award-winning illustrator Brian Pinkney and writer Andrea Pinkney--for making music fly in this fantastic tribute to a jazz legend. Andrea does an extraordinary job of translating music into words, with blues "deeper than the deep blue sea" and "hot-buttered bob, with lots of sassy-cool tones," while her husband visually interprets the movement of music as spirals, waves, and swirls of color, prepared as scratchboard renderings with luma dyes, gouache, and oil paint. Andrea writes, "Toby let loose on his sleek brass sax, curling his notes like a kite tail in the wind. A musical loop-de-loop, with a serious twist," while Brian paints those curling notes, the loop-de-loops, and the kite sailing up to the New York City skyline. Young readers will enjoy the rhythm and beauty of the story itself, and may even be inspired to give Raffi a rest and swing with the Duke! (Great read-aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson, Amazon.com Kids editor ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

"Duke Ellington" continues to jazz it up
If the brilliant colors and impressive images don't catch your attention, then the amazingly written story of Edward Kennedy Ellington will.

"Duke Ellington" throws the reader into the early 1900's with its slang talk and direct narrative.The reader becomes a part of the story as the narrator tells about how Duke started out being bored by the piano, and then grew to love it when he heard ragtime being played.Andrea Davis Pinkney makes this a fun book for readers by describing the sounds of all the instruments with such detail that one could imagine they are actually hearing Duke's music being played just for them.I became enthralled with the vivid pictures depicting jazz as one might sense it if they had been there."Duke Ellington" has won both the Caldecott Honor award, and the Coretta Scott King Award.This book is a good, fun, imaginative read for all ages.

Excellent read aloud
As an elementary school library specialist, this is my all time favorite read aloud. I utilized music/sound files on the web to have the King of the Keys himself accompany his biography. The text itself is a story to be read out loud. A teacher commented that this was his favorite read aloud and I believe a student favorite of all the grades I read this to (grades 3-6). Students were swaying, snapping their fingers, and just tapping away. The older kids didn't do that, but when the music ended, they asked for a repeat and I obliged. Hats off to you Ms. Pinkney!

Put it this way. Jazz is a good barometer of freedom. - D.E.
Being a relatively new reader of children's books, I tend to go about my systematic reading of all good picture books out there in a backwards manner.Case in point, Andrea Davis Pinkney.I first came across this writer, and her talented hubby Brian, through their lovely, "Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso".It was through that book that I discovered that the art of scratchboard (remember having to do those in elementary school?) can produce some truly fabulous picture book art.After reading "Ella" I doubled back and found her 1999 Caldecott Honor winning baby, "Duck Ellington".The book that started it all.Also using scratchboard (and without relying on fictional talking felines ala "Ella") the book is a whirlwind biography of one of the world's jazzy greats.There are tons of picture books about jazz musicians out there today.Only one, however, has garnered both the Coretta Scott King Award and the Caldecott Honor.

In this tale we meet Duke from his baseball playing days in Washington, D.C. Children everywhere will sympathize when Duke decides that learning to play the piano is a waste of his time and that he'd much rather be out and about with his friends.Fast forward a couple years and an older pool shooting Duke hears the sweet sounds of ragtime for the very first time.Suddenly the piano doesn't sound so lame, and Duke teaches himself the rudiments of it immediately.Over time, his particular style and talents get him jobs in clubs and cabarets and at last he forms his own band.From here on in the book's a whirlwind series of visits to places like the Cotton Club (which I think illustrator Brian Pinkney probably failed to base after the real club itself) and, at long last, New York's Carnegie Hall in 1943.A matter-of-fact bio at the back as well as a complete bibliography of sources (well done there) round out this lively encapsulation of a life.

Kids are often assigned biographies in school, and "Duke Ellington" has the advantage of being both interesting and filled to the brim with sources and facts.The story is as lively as Ms. Pinkney could make it, often going into deep descriptions of individual players' talents in the Duke's band.The art is lovely as well.Using luma dyes, gouache, and oil paint and then rendering it in a scratchboard style, there's a real throbbing beauty to some of these paintings.In a final picture Duke conducts his band in a purple suit and the notes of the players curl out as almost iridescent swirls and waves.Altogether lovely.

In many ways, the book's going to be a bore to those kinds who've never heard a jazz note in their lives and don't understand the importance.If at all possible, try finding a copy of that incredibly amazing film "Cabin In the Sky" and showing it to the kids and THEN give them this book.The movie's worth checking out and Duke (with his orchestra) is wonderful in it.

Though this is perhaps not my favorite jazz picture book out there (I've still some very fond feelings for "Charlie Parker Played Be Bop") it's still quite a wonder and worth checking out.A necessary addition to any well-rounded children's biography section of their local library.

Singin' and Swingin'
Edward Kennedy Ellington, who preferred being called Duke, didn't like playing the piano at first.As the book made out, he considered piano lessons a chore, although it doesn't directly say this in the text.The boring "umpy-dumpy" noises that the piano made when he hit the keys made him soon quit lessons so he could pursue the interests of a regular boy.It would be a couple of years later until Duke would start practicing piano once more.

In what looks like a pool hall, Duke discovers a new way of playing piano.His discovery is ragtime.The ragtime music isn't boring and repetitve as the type of music he had practiced as a boy.This music gives of a rythmical sensation throughout the body.Duke is soon in love with the piano.And he starts practicing with the little knowledge of the piano he has. He is soon good enough to have his own band and becomes a frequent performer at the Cotton Club.Duke records many hit songs in his life and becomes known as "The King of the Keys".

Pinkney's unusually good painting are very enjoyable and I really like the way that the musical chords showed up to let the reader know that music was being played.

An outstanding picture book biography!
This beautiful picture book biography recounts the life and career of jazz musician, Edward Kennedy Ellington -- better known to all as the Duke.

When the Duke's parents enrolled him in piano lessons for the very first time, he flat out did not want to go. At that time he had visions of playing baseball; but his parents insisted that he learn to play the piano. The music lessons were slow and not a lot of fun. It wasn't long before he quit taking lessons altogether and kissed the piano goodbye. Little did he know then that the melodious rhythms of Ragtime would draw him back to this instrument again and lead to his success as a great musician, composer, and orchestra leader!

Andrea Davis Pinkney does an outstanding job sharing the Duke's story with young readers. Her husband, Brian Pinkney, matches her wonderful text with vibrate illustrations, which translate the Duke's music into a series of bold colored spirals, waves, curls, and swirls that literally leap off of the pages of the book! Without a doubt, this husband and wife collaboration will guide readers in appreciating the rhythm and beat of the Duke's life and music. This book is truly a musician's delight! ... Read more

Amazon.com
This superb anthology covers the entire length of the composer's career, from his landfall in Manhattan in 1923 to the Old Master period of the early 1970s. There are dozens of reviews, essays, appreciations, and memoirs, written not only by music critics but by such heavy hitters as Ralph Ellison, Simone de Beauvoir(!), and Blaise Cendrars. The book also includes a selection of Ellington's own dicta--be sure not to overlook his 1937 polemic from "Down Beat": "Ellington Refutes Cry That Swing Started Sex Crimes!" Superbly edited and endlessly intriguing, the Reader is an essential volume for Ellington nuts and neophytes alike.Book Description
Duke Ellington is universally recognized as one of the towering figures of 20th-century music, both a brilliant composer and one of the preeminent musicians in jazz history. From early pieces such as East St. Louis Toodle-O, Black and Tan Fantasy, It Don't Mean a Thing, and Mood Indigo, to his more complex works such as Reminiscing in Tempo and Black, Brown and Beige, to his later suites and sacred concerts, he left an indelible mark on the musical world. Now, in The Duke Ellington Reader, Mark Tucker offers the first historical anthology of writings about this major African-American musician. The volume includes over a hundred selections--interviews, critical essays, reviews, memoirs, and over a dozen writings by Ellington himself--with generous introductions and annotations for each selection provided by the editor. The result is a unique sourcebook that illuminates Ellington's work and reveals the profound impact his music has made on listeners over the years.The writers gathered here represent a Who's Who of jazz criticism: Gunther Schuller, Whitney Balliett, Martin Williams, Gary Giddins, Stanley Crouch, Albert Murray, Nat Hentoff, Hugues Panassie, Stanley Dance, to name just a few. Their writings span Ellington's entire career, from the days when Duke Ellington's Washingtonians appeared at New York's Club Kentucky ("Probably the 'hottest' band this side of the equator"), to the Duke's glorious reign at the Cotton Club, to his later years as global ambassador of American music. Tucker has included some of the classic essays written about Ellington, such as R. D. Darrell's "Black Beauty," the first significant critical essay on Ellington's work and still one of the most important; Richard O. Boyer's lengthy New Yorker profile "The Hot Bach," printed here in its entirety; and Martin Williams's "Form Beyond Form," one of the best capsule introductions to Ellington's art. Throughout the book, the reader receives a balanced overview of Ellington's life as composer and performer, as public personality and private individual. Tucker provides a number of pieces on Ellington's compositions, including an entire chapter devoted to critical response to Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige, and there are also many moving pieces on Ellington the man, such as Ralph Ellison's tribute to Ellington on his 70th birthday, and Stanley Dance's funeral address. Finally, Tucker rounds out the collection with profiles on many of the outstanding musicians who worked with Ellington, among them Johnny Hodges, Bubber Miley, Billy Strayhorn, Ivie Anderson, Sonny Greer, Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton, and Ben Webster.This is a landmark volume in jazz criticism, a kaleidoscopic portrait of Duke Ellington's creative world, documenting his extraordinary achievements as composer, songwriter, bandleader, and pianist. It is an essential companion for Ellington enthusiasts, jazz fans, and serious students of American music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

superb book but not for the new intitiate
This is one of the finest books I have read on Duke Ellington, beautifully and intricately compiled and with the voices of many on DE. It is a superb read for the Ellington aficanado; however, for new intiates to the Duke Iwouls recommend Duke Ellington: A spiritual Biography by Janna Steed, anexcellent boook but not quite so hefty and with a strong emphasis on hissacred music and concerts. But, for you aficiandos, Tucker's book is thetops! ... Read more

Amazon.com
One of the 20th century's greatest composers, Duke Ellington (1899-1974) led a fascinating life. The first biography to draw on the vast Duke Ellington archives at the Smithsonian Institution, this book recounts the entirety of his remarkable career: his childhood in Washington, D.C. and musical apprenticeship in Harlem; his long engagement at the glamorous, gangster-owned Cotton Club; the challenging years during the Depression; his tours to Europe and into America's deep South, where he helped lower racial barriers; the postwar years when television and bebop threatened to eclipse the big bands; Ellington's own triumphant comeback at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival; his collaborations with Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges, Ella Fitzgerald, and John Coltrane, among others; and of course, the music itself, five decades of hits and masterpieces that constantly broke new ground.

John Edward Hasse serves as Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution, curator of its traveling exhibition Beyond Category, and producer and annotator of the boxed set of recordings by the same name.Book Description
One of the twentieth century's greatest composers, Duke Ellington (1899-1974) led a fascinating life. Beyond Category, the first biography to draw on the vast Duke Ellington archives at the Smithsonian Institution, recounts his remarkable career: his childhood in Washington, D.C., and his musical apprenticeship in Harlem; his long engagement at the Cotton Club; the challenging years of the depression; his tours to Europe and into America's deep South, where he helped lower racial barriers; the postwar years when television and bebop threatened to eclipse the big bands; Ellington's own triumphant comeback at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival; his collaborations with Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges, and Ella Fitzgerald; as well as five decades of hits and masterpieces that constantly broke new ground. The art of Duke Ellington was a musical expression of the African-American experience, in all its pain, pride, and glory. He composed his music as he composed his life-with flair, passion, and individuality-and no book reveals the man and his artistic evolution more brilliantly than Beyond Category. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Not Merely A Genius Of Jazz...But Rather A Musical Genius!!!
His music has resonated all around us for nearly a century.We almost unconsciously react to the melodic rhythms of his brilliant compositions as we watch television or listen to the radio.Often the arrangements are backdrops to our daily lives...soothing our mood or stimulating us to tap our feet or simply sway to its almost spiritual cadences.Such is the music of the Great Duke Ellington.In "Beyond Category" we find an outstanding biography of arguably the greatest composer the world has ever known. From his early days as an aspiring composer/bandleader in Washington, D.C.; through his New York days at the Cotton Club; and onto his unprecedented tours of Europe, Africa and the Far East, this book takes you on a delightful journey into the creative mindset and personality genius of Ellington.Unlike many writings of this nature, Hasse manages to avoid sentimental veneration in conveying many of Ellington's talents in regards to people, business dealings, and his relationship with women.The book is a well-written, enjoyable composition that draws the reader into Ellington's world.Additionally, the author grants appropriate respect to the musicians, artists and businessmen who aided Ellington throughout his career, thus balancing the text superbly. I highly recommend "Beyond Category", not only for the Ellington fan or even a Jazz fan, but for anyone interested in the life and times of a musical genius and an icon of American history.

Top Ellington biography of the 3 I've read so far
Beyond Category is the best introduction to Duke Ellington's life and music. It was created to coincide with a Smithsonian exhibit and it offers a quality professional biography of Ellington's life and times. The author considers Ellington's life a series of problems to solve for his mind. Some of these problems are how to learn piano, how to start a band, how to compose with a partner, how to react to the recording band, how to deal with the loss of key soloists, how to compose larger works and ends up hitting many of the high points of Ellington's life and works.

Most of the new research at the time came from Mercer Ellington's enormous donation of his warehouse of materials for the Duke Ellington collectionl. Yet as a book intended for a popular audience, the musical content of this trove was not really fully dealt with. Mercer's collection comes through in the fabulous photographs that are interspersed throughout the book. It may have been better to have all the photographs grouped in several sections as not everyone will have time to read the entire book I suppose.

One very helpful aspect to the book was that at the end of each chapter there was a guide to key recordings of Ellington's life. This type of material is very helpful to those new to Ellington's life.

I found the prose to be clear and adequate although not as lively as some of the other excellent jazz biographies I've read such as Chambers' Milestones.

This book gets a 4.5 star rating for anyone new to Ellington. It's accessible, readable, and gives you several ideas to approach the true gold mine of Ellington's music.

For jazz researchers and scholars, there's still room for a knockout biography of Ellington that adds the information from the Smithsonian collection to wide ranging interviews and even better prose. Researchers will want to read this, but I'm not sure how much of this material is groundbreaking.

4.5 stars for neophytes
3.5 stars for Ellington scholars

4 stars overall

Better late than never
No sentimentality here. Just warm, rich story telling of a great man. I'm actually embarrassedto say that after lifetime of jazz I just dicovered The Duke. This is a very well written and balanced portrayal of a man,his music and his times. If there's more to say I don't want to read it; it's time to listen.

excellently researched book
As an old time lover of Jazz, but rather new to really examining the lives behind its great musicians, and particularly Duke Ellington, I started out with "Duke Ellington: A Spiritual Biography" by Janna Tull Steed(great book (and just 192 pages) for anyone new to the Duke & jazz). Itwas Steed's book that really built the interest to explore Ellington inmore depth and, Hasse's book is just what I was looking for. It is a heftybook but it is absolutely and completely accessible, just what is requiredto approach this great man of Jazz.

A compeling portrait of one of America's greatest composers
This is a thoroughly enjoyable story of the life and times of one of America's greatest and most prolific composer/musicians. It characterises the "Duke" as a caring, people loving person with close familyties, and a quest for excellence against all odds. The Forward by WyntonMarsalis is clear and insightful. The author has accomplished an easy tofollow sequence of events enhanced by photos and drawings. I highlyrecommend it to anyone interested in the genre. ... Read more

Product Description
Features 11 classics from Duke Ellington's stellar career: Caravan Don't Get Around Much Anymore I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good I'm Beginning to See the Light In a Sentimental Mood It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Mood Indigo Satin Doll Solitude Sophisticated Lady Take theATrain. ... Read more

Product Description
17 classic tunes in authentic Ellington style. New piano solo arrangements by Stephen Duro based on the original big band recordings, complete with chord symbols. Songs include: Caravan In a Sentimental Mood Prelude to a Kiss Satin Doll Take the 'A' Train and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Ellington for beginners
This excellent study of several Ellington's classical composition is very interesting for us who are not musical scholars but want to gain some insight in the mechanics behind Ellington's art. I suppose it will also serve as a great introduction to Ellington for musicologists who are not yet acquainted with his work.

Good and less good about this book
The good thing about this book is, that it tries to describe the style ofEllington through musical analysis documented through transcriptions innotes, and it shows how Ellington was influenced by blues, ragtime and TinPan Alley. We are though not told everything about Ellington as composer,as one might gather from the title. It is strange that the author doesn'tmention the tradition of categorization of the various styles of Ellington,nor do he explains, why he has ignored this tradition. The book must beunderstood as a contribution to the full investigation of Ellington ascomposer.

Jørgen Mathiasen, Musicologist and jazzhistorian, ... Read more

Amazon.com
Onstage, Duke Ellington was an effusive, electrifying personality. Offstage, he was something of a cipher, which led one longtime associate to speculate that "only a whole convention of people who 'knew' Ellington, each revealing their understanding of the enigma, could begin to piece together an accurate portrait of him." Stanley Dance, an Ellington booster since the 1930s, has assembled exactly this sort of composite picture. His book includes verbal snapshots of the orchestra on tour, and several conversations with the man himself. The main attraction, though, is the series of interviews that Dance conducted with dozens of orchestra members, including Ben Webster, Cootie Williams, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Johnny Hodges. None of these gentlemen claim any profound intimacy with their employer (although baritone saxophonist Carney, who also chauffeured Ellington between gigs, probably spent as much time in his company as any other human being). But their accumulated conversation does add up to a rare--if inevitably partial--portrait, as well as a treasure trove of musical insight. ... Read more

Book Description
Presents a biography of Duke Ellington ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Duke Ellington by Mike Venezia
The book is only 32 pages and with only 11 pages devoted to actual text, he did an excellent job in projecting DE musical career. A wonderful gift to a child in the 4-8 age bracket. ... Read more

Product Description
The Jazz Play-Along series lets you learn the music of the masters through transcriptions and a great CD with both practice and performance versions of each song, allowing you to isolate your part or play along with a full band. The book includes 10 songs, including: Caravan Don't Get Around Much Anymore In a Mellow Tone In a Sentimental Mood It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) Perdido Prelude to a Kiss Satin Doll Sophisticated Lady Take the A Train. Parts are included for all C, Bb and Eb instruments. ... Read more

Book Description
17 transcriptions of one of the greatest piano players of our time performing the works of one of the greatest composers of our time. Includes: Band Call * C-Jam Blues * Caravan * Cotton Tail * Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me * Don't Get Around Much Anymore * I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good * In a Mellow Tone * John Hardy's Wife * Just a Settin' and a Rockin' * Night Train * Prelude to a Kiss * Rockin' in Rhythm * Satin Doll * Sophisticated Lady * Take the "A" Train * Things Ain't What They Used to Be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very Difficult!
This is a great volume of sheet music to get, it includes many classic Ellington tunes as perfomed by Oscar Peterson. I didn't realise when I purchased it that, the version of C-Jam Blues here is an exact transcription of the recording on the Night Train album. This alone makes the purchase worthwhile.

Naturally these transcriptions are very difficult and will require a lot of time and effort to get anywhere near the original recordings. Its worth pointing out, that most, if not all the recordings these transcriptions are based on, are available to buy. So at least you will be able to hear how they are supposed to be played, even if you never quite reach that standard!

Learn From the Master
Heralded as one of the greatest pianists to ever live by critics. This book is a good resource for those to see the genius of Peterson and how he composed and improvised. The licks and chord voicings are wonderful.

Excellent Transcriptions
This book is great for anyone who listens to an Oscar Peterson recording and thinks, "I'd love to see that solo written out so I could try to play it."The transcriptions are fantastic-- trying to play along is a great way to begin to understand how OP would perform a piece.It also gives you insight into how talented this man truly is!Perfect for the aspiring jazz pianist. ... Read more

Book Description
More than a discography, this book compiles the complete recorded music of Duke Ellington and his sidemen, including studio recordings, movie soundtracks, concerts, dance dates, radio broadcasts, telecasts, and private recordings, creating an easy to use reference source for Jazz collectors and scholars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The place to go with questions on Ellington recordings
This book fills in the gaps left by dodgy or absent liner notes. The main body of the text is a chronological list of Ellington band performances (including the small ensembles under sidemen's names) which were known to have been recorded and released by somebody at sometime somewhere. The typical entry includes:
a)title of ensemble (e.g. D.E. and his Famous Orchestra, Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra etc.),
b)date,
c) nature of performance (live, studio, movie sound track),
d)musicians,
e)place, and
f) titles with original record label & identifying numbers. There are occasionally notes giving variant titles.
There is also an alphabetical list of titles indicating the various recording dates and several lists and indexes of "Ellingtonians", band personnel who were connected with the Ellington organization in any way, as well as lists of record labels and the various names under which Ellington recorded.
This is entirely oriented toward identifying recordings, not compositions, so there is no composer or publishing data given. There is no interpretive or evaluative commentary.
Keep in mind that there have been several editions, as new performances are occasionally unearthed, so this is a work in progress. For example, the fifth volume of the Duke Ellington Treasury Shows, released by Storyville in 2002, included a live performance from 1945 that I did not find in Timner.

Essential for any serious Ellington lover
This is a huge and initially intimidating book which lists every known recording of Duke Ellington including much that has never been released. Also included are recording of 'Ellingtonians', men from the band who now and then led their own groups. Heavily indexed and cross-referenced.

I've had the 4th edition ever since it came out and I find it indespensible. Grab one now before you have to buy one used at twice the price!

... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

The Man tells it all in this flashing memoir
This is most recommended who loves Jazz and/or ever been a fan to Duke from the past and the future. I always been a long-time supporter to him since I was 9 or 10. This is definitely going into my book collection alongside Autobiography of Malcolm X, Miles: The Autobiography, Revelations: There's a Light After the Lime, Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye, Hip-Hop America, As Though I Have Wings: The Lost Chet Baker Memoir, and mos definitely the Bible.

I'm a huge fan to the memoir/biography section than I do most books I read about life and stuff. This would go on forever in a lifetime.

The man in his own words
Sometimes self-serving, somewhat pretentious, but indispensable. Edward Kennedy Ellington, the greatest composer this country has ever produced, in his own words.

Class.
Classic.If you consider the classic elegance of Edward Kennedy Ellington, it should come as no surprise that his prose is as lyrical and poetic as his music.This is a wonderful collection of writings.It is in effect an arrangement of essays and short pieces written with what I suspect is love about the love of his life-jazz, or music itself, if you will.The book contains many short pieces-impressionistic sketches and characters of persons that Duke Ellington knew-musicians, friends, acquaintances, public figures.But it also has a variety of essays-longer subjects interwoven with themes and counterpoint.Ellington's is exquisitely musical prose-again, not to be surprised.The organization is chronological, narrative, more or less.Duke organizes with autobiographical passages followed by short portraits-Dramatis Felidae-that demonstrate the concreteness through brief descriptions of the persons that he knew with anecdotes that define them.The book covers a life filled with friends and experience.The variety is tremendous, and the life and the career are masterpieces.The themes and subjects are multifaceted.This is Duke Ellington's poetic literary suite posing as prose, and it should not be missed.Really-it's great poetry and a terrific compendium of jazz history and experience.

Straight from the master's mouth
I'm a great fan of autobiography.Granted, often it is sanitized and self-serving, but there's nothing like hearing a person tell their own life, especially if the life is as important as this one.Without a doubt,Duke Ellington was the century's greatest American composer and bandleader;the only ones who even come close to him (Aaron Copland, George Gershwin,Cole Porter) had neither his longevity nor his variety.And none of themalso maintained a working band through six decades!I own almost everyrecording ever released by Duke Ellington; his music has become indeliblyprinted on my brain.This book may not be the most accurate account of hislife (if you can handle a little armchair psychology, the Collier biographyis the best choice for that), but this is like sitting in a room hearingDuke talk -- and play!

Utterly Fascinating Life
Wow what a book.The best part about this book is that Duke wrote it.You get it straight from him.I recommend this book to anyone into the music.

His accounts of his younger days were what most appealed to me. He pays so much respect to the people he was surrounded by, both his familyand the community of musicians.Sometimes the many names dropped can be abit much, but that was just his style--always letting people know whohelped him, who mentored him, who taught him, who he admired.There'sscarcely a mean-spirited word in the whole book!

There is a lot ofvariety to the way he tells his stories.Sometimes its through the namedropping profiles; sometimes its through interviews reprinted for thisbook; sometimes its through out-and-out philosophical dissertations aboutmusic and life; sometimes it's in the midst of his endless travelling ofthe globe with his band.

For the musician looking for tips and advice,there's plenty of Duke wisdom provided throughout.His overall love formusic and musicians is just SOOO apparent.My favorite piece of advice isthat he said he learned music exclusively through oral instruction, frompeople in the scene who would share techniques and secrets seemingly asfreely as idle conversation (how different the musical climate is thesedays!)

The last third or so of the book get a bit tedious for thisreader.There just wasn't a lot of variety to his accounts ofglobetrotting and meeting all the important people in all the countries. What kept me going through these sections were the occasional gems ofadvice or insight, but there's more of that in the first half of the book. Thank god for the end of the book, a funny interview where the intervieweris REALLY condescending to Duke, but Duke gets through is with all thegrace, wit, intelligence, and humor that makes him such a compellingperson, composer, and most of all, a genius and musical mystic.

Thank theDuke for this book, and allowing us to get a glimpse of his life and allhis amazing stories! ... Read more

Product Description
Piano solos. Two dozen tunes--the Duke's own style. Includes: I'm Nobody's Baby ? I'll See You in My Dreams ? I Cried for You ? At Sundown You Are My Lucky Star. ... Read more

Book Description
The two-volume Duke's Diary provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of the greatest figures in American music, the incomparable Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington. Using contemporary photographs, newspaper reports, advertisements, reviews, and narrative, both volumes chronicle Duke's life, performances, and recording sessions. ... Read more

Book Description
Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington and his music have been an intregral part of the American scene for most of the 20th Century.Janna Tull Steed introduces the readers to the engaging, enigmatic man himself, as well as to the range of Ellington's musical achievement, with a lively mix of fact and anecdote. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

good introduction to Ellington
Very accesible book & good introduction not only to Duke Ellington but the world of Jazz. I suppose an author is limited by the number of pages how in depth one can get but still I expected a more critical examination of the contradiction of Ellington's public persona w/ his spirituality andhow he reconciled these contradictions. That said, I still found Steed'sargument convincing, especially his leading up to his sacred music. This isespecially a good book for the new initiate to Duke Ellington.

Author Janna Steed breaks new ground
I just recently joined a book discussion group and last night, during my first meeting we were discussing Janna Tull Steed's new book "Duke Ellington: A Spiritual Biography." In just 192 pages Steed tracesEllington's development from a piano player to bandleader to composer andhis truly thrilling and sublime sacred concerts in the last decade of hislife. Steed also discusses in depth Ellington's ability to write for theindividual voice, or band member, which seems to be, at least partly, whatmade and marks him as such an extraordinary and perhaps greatest Americancomposer--that and his overwelming dedication to his music and a relentlessability to constantly break new ground.

Steed's grasp of Ellington andhis music, particularly Ellington as a composer is tops. She draws on theenormous archives at the Smithsonian Institution but also on extensivefirsthand interviews with scores of people who were intimately familiarwith Duke Ellington and his music, and especially his development of hissacred music and concerts. It is in the area of the sacred concerts thatSteed breaks new ground but also her focus of Ellinton as composer, as wellas his oft forgotten important work in Hollywood. Her outstandingachievment is that she accomplished this in 192 pages. Steed covers theentire scope of Ellington's remarkable life and career and her insights arevery welcome and as engaging as they are informative.

Great Book! Great Series!
I picked this book up after reading Joan of Arc in this Lives and Legacies Series. This new book delivers everything it promises. I'm a real biography nut with an interest in a very broad range of subjects (and that's justwhat this series delivers) but have little time to immerse myself in a 500or 700 page reading. So it's great to be able to pick up these shortbiographies, get a great read, and then decide if I want to explore asubject in further depth. But I can tell you with both these books, shortas they are (192 pages), they are still very in-depth, scholarly and butstill accessible to the popular audience. Duke Ellington was a particularpleasure as I knew nothing about his Sacred music and Concerts, nor have Irun across anything that examines so fully the films that him and hisorchestra were featured in, and which by the way Ellington had asignificant role in developing. Author Janna Steed offers up a terrificlittle gem with this new book on Duke Ellington.

engaging, informative, and, most importantly, accessible
The author's knowledge of Duke Ellington, and descriptions of his compositions is impressive. After studying Ellington's life and compositions through this book more closely, in his music, even when it isnot overtly religious, one can quickly see that Ellington did indeed workout his spirituality through his music, as this author so convincinglyargues. Of especial interest is the author's conception of spirituality andher deep artistry of both genuinely recognizing Ellington's and making thatconnection with his music, and how both shaped and influenced his life.This is not a scholarly tome, but rather a wonderfully quick, short read.As one of many old Ellington fans, my guess is that Duke Ellington wouldhave smiled brightly and given his big stamp of approval to this book.

The Good Old Duke Is Hotter Than Ever!
I just got finished listening to the new CDs of Duke Ellington's Sacred Music, picked up at Borders. Wow! While I was listening to this great stuff I was reading this book. And Wow! again. If you want the nitty, gritty, thelowdown, or dope so to speak, on the Duke you'll have to go somewhere else.Miss Steed does give you the whole story but her emphasis is on his work,his artistry, and his legend--what the Good Man left us with--and hisSacred Music, which he said, was not his best work, but his most importantwork. And it was real, man, this is what I was looking for, someone whoreally had something new to say about The Man, and knew what they weretalking about! Buy this book and get to know the Duke and the man behindthe legend. ... Read more

Product Description
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Book Description
Twelve of the Dukes' most memorable compositions arranged in standard notation and tablature. Includes: Do Nothin' Till You Hear from MeDon't Get Around Much AnymoreIn a Sentimental MoodIt Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)Mood IndigoSatin DollSophisticated LadyTake the 'A' Train. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Top-notch jazz pieces
I bought this book a while ago and Howard Morgen's arrangements look quite different from pieces arranged by other jazz masters: they are very elegant, incredibly melodic, and grab the ear by unusual combinations of chords and single note solos with harmonics. I agree with other reviewers that Howard's arrangements are technically difficult to perform and fretting hand fingering is quite challenging. However, playing his arrangements is not impossible! This is my advice how to work on them. First, when working on the piece listen to it on the CD alone with reading the notation to link the audo signal with its notation's spelling - do it until you can hear the music just by reading the notes. Second, practice playing the most challenging measure until it sounds very close to what's on the CD: don't jump to practicing the new measure until you are good with the previous one because if they both sound "bad" you may become easily frustrated. Third, if you find it difficult to play chords requiring stretching fretting fingers over "15 frets" you can re-arrange these parts by either skipping some notes in the chord or refingering them into a more comfortable position: it will not sound as nice as original arrangement but will be good enough to walk through the entire piece.
The reason I gave it 4 is that it appears that there are few places where notation does not match its CD sound (check Satin Doll), and I hope this will be corrected in next editions of this wonderful book.

Great arrangements, but not for beginners
I really like this book.The arrangements are very interesting and well presented.Although it's not a book for beginners, some of the arragements are well suited for intermediate players who are just starting to learn solo jazz guitar.Others, though, are challenging even for a fairly advanced player (which is what I consider myself).If you find this book too challenging, make sure to stay away from Morgen's book on Gershwin.Even the simplest of those arrangements are hard.

Not for Beginners
... or even intermediates. I went through a handful of the arrangements in detail, and I found that the fingerings are much more demanding than necessary to perform any of these pieces. The flourishes and single-note non-melody material should be marked optional and instead is treated as essential, making the arrangements pretty, but also pretty tricky. Best for an intermediate guitarist, who is probably already able to make decent money gigging and who already owns a handful of fake books, who is looking for alternative arrangements. ... Read more

Book Description
Drawing upon a remarkable mix of intensive research and the personal experience of a career devoted to the music about which Dvorak so presciently spoke, Maurice Peress's lively and convincing narrative treats readers to a rare and delightful glimpse behind the scenes of the burgeoning American school of music and beyond.In Dvorak to Duke Ellington, Peress begins by recounting the music's formative years: Dvorak's three year residency as Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York (1892-1895), and his students, in particular Will Marion Cook and Rubin Goldmark, who would in turn become the teachers of Ellington, Gershwin, and Copland. We follow Dvorak to the famed Chicago World's Fair of 1893, where he directed a concert of his music for Bohemian Honor Day. Peress brings to light the little known African American presence at the Fair: the piano professors, about-to-be-ragtimers; and the gifted young artists Paul Dunbar, Harry T. Burleigh, and Cook, who gathered at the Haitian Pavilion with its director, Frederick Douglass, to organize their own gala concert for Colored Persons Day.Peress, a distinguished conductor, is himself a part of this story; working with Duke Ellington on the Suite from Black, Brown and Beige and his "opera comique," Queenie Pie; conducting the world premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass; and reconstructing landmark American concerts at which George Antheil's Ballet Mecanique, George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, James Reese Europe's Clef Club (the first all-black concert at Carnegie Hall), and Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige, were first presented. Concluding with an astounding look at Ellington and his music, Dvorak to Duke Ellington offers an engrossing, elegant portrait of the Dvorak legacy, America's music, and the inestimable African-American influence upon it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stunningly Insightful Book for the Jazz Fan
Peress's 'Dvorak to Duke Ellington' is necessary reading for any serious Duke Ellington fan or any student of the lineage of jazz.

Despite long passages spoken in highly technical musical terminology (which will be manna for composers out there), Peress brings so many interesting anecdotes to light, so many fresh insights into Ellington's working methods to composing, laypersons too will gain profound wisdom into the infrastructure that later brought BeBop, hardBop, Modern, R&B, Blues and Rock & Roll into reality.

For Duke lovers, it is heartening to see Peress discover (tearfully) what we already had known: his music is a gift to world history. Peress's nuanced details as to how Duke scored his sobering emotional analyses of Black Culture is particularly stunning, he having access to rare Ellington family archives and an insiders association with the Duke.

And Duke was a poet - literally. YES!

I was completely taken aback at how much is owed to Antonin Dvorak, the Czech emigree, for shaping the jazz juggernaut, or more specifically, the jazz orchestral juggernaut. I am not sure that the limber modern Jazz idiom as we know it, or the Gershwin orchestral phenomenon, would have garnered legitimacy without Dvorak's extra-ordinary cheerleading of our indigenous arts such as Ragtime, sharecropper tunes, and gospel songs. There is an argument intrinsically proffered in the book that Dvorak might have assisted in the abolition of minstrelsy itself.

Peress only missed a few related facts. For instance, he did not cover the Harlem Renaissance leadership and it's muscular shaping of the Jazz and Blues idioms. Those gentlemen (Dubois, et.al) also marketed the Duke heavily, and deserve a mention in this book. Peress also did not describe the original etymology of Jazz as being 'Jass,' a vulgar term coined by whites for early New Orleans jazz that meant something akin to Sexual Intercourse, which I believe should be defined in every sweeping analysis of this art.

Lastly, this book reveals the star-touched career of the author, Maurice Peress, as a composer. I look forward to collecting Peress's jazz re-conditionings, as well as Classical recordings, on CD and vinyl at the soonest opportunity.

Michael James Hawk
Seattle WA USA
July 3, 2007

Terrific book by a real pro
Maurice Peress is an inspiring guide to the main roads and byways of American music. A conductor of distinction and a writer, scholar and thinker of substance, he offers a combination of personal reminiscences and exciting historical discoveries. He is a leading expert on Dvorak and his time, and offers fresh new insights into the material. His original research on Dvorak's American years has been quite influential in the development of this field more broadly and thus he may be considered the "Dean" of American Dvorak scholarship.

This is a splendid book to read straight through, or to browse and enjoy. ... Read more