Duke Ellington Poetic Style
Duke Ellington definitely stands in my mind as one of the more important and productive musicians of this century. One of the first black band leaders, and one of the most innovative, the Duke wrote music of all types and styles from solo jazz piano pieces to 16 piece pop songs to symphony orchestra pieces. His wide range of composing styles is seen in his collaborations with prominent performers, two of which are John Coltrane and Frank Sinatra.
He was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C., and came to Harlem in 1922. His composing style at the time contrasted deeply with that of two of his contemporaries, Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman. While they were developing the stereotypical big band style of Brass vs. Winds vs. Rhythm, the Duke attempted
He was born in 1899 in Washington, D.C., and came to Harlem in 1922. His composing style at the time contrasted deeply with that of two of his contemporaries, Fletcher Henderson and Don Redman. While they were developing the stereotypical big band style of Brass vs. Winds vs. Rhythm, the Duke attempted