FREE Duke Ellington Essay (original) (raw)

" It makes no difference if it's sweet or hot/ just keep that rhythm, give it everything you got-. Jazz music has been an influence for American culture for over a century. It has influenced all musicians in some way or another. Whether the style is swing, latin, or funk, jazz is a part of life. Originating in the deep south of Louisiana, it soon became a hit. Duke Ellington is among the many musicians who fall in love with this style, but among the lucky few who center their lives on it. Through his life, Duke relied on music, savoring the sounds of life, and depicted them through his music. His music tells a story, whether is be about a young girl with a nutcracker doll, or a magical trip through New York.
Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 (Haskings 82). He was the son of J.E. and Daisy Ellington (Ellington Biography). J.E. was a butler in the White House (Haskings 82). Edward's life revolved around his friends. Growing up, Duke would always wear newly shined shoes and a tie (Haskins 82). This earned him the nickname Duke'. While young, he started taking piano lessons, but these lessons dulled him. Mrs. Klingscale, Duke's music teacher, suggested to Daisy that it was perhaps a waste of money to pay for lessons that he had no interest in. Duke preferred music to ring, not be mechanical (Turkell 81).
Duke's first attempt at jazz was imitation. J.P. Johnson, a ragtime pianist, had recorded "Carolina Shout-. Duke studied Johnson, imitating everything, from notes to even the smallest wrist movements. Once, at a club, Duke was called up to perform for Johnson. The final result was "Kid, you do it better than me."" (J.P. Johnson) (Turkell 83). After this show, Duke began taking lessons from Henry Grant. After a concert one night, Willie The Lion' Smith gave Duke an impromptu lesson on harmony. Throughout their musical career, they continued to compliment each other in their songs.

1. Duke Elington

The name is monumental in the world of jazz, who else but Duke Ellington would come to mind when thinking of the music that formed the 1920's and shaped later music to what it is today. ... Duke, Born Edward Kennedy Ellington was born April 29th ,1899 the son of James William Ellington and Daisy Kennedy Ellington. ... On March 11th, 1919 his son Mercer Kennedy Ellington was born. ... With all this publicity Duke Ellington's band became the most requested band in the country and many parts of the world. ... Duke passed away on May 24th, 1974. ...

2. Jazz Culture

Artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Benny Goodman evolved the impression that I had, and elevated me to the abstract freedom and individuality each artist embodied during their particular era. ... Duke Ellington stood out above the rest with his distinctive styles that he was able to create using the piano. ... Ellington's music had a lot to do with the "body-based music" we discussed early in the week. ...

3. Concert Music

He was most influenced by Duke Ellington another important composer in the history of jazz. ... Duke Ellington's dominance in jazz is not only because of the very high artistic standard of his output and not simply due to his remarkable abilities as a pianist, composer and bandleader. ... Ellington Mood Indigo is hunting tune he composed in 1930. ... Through exposure to different forms of musical interpretation like Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo", Charles Ives "General Putman's Camp", and Aaron Copland's "Simple Gift" from the musical CD, It is possible to understand bett...

4. Jazz music

The development of the big band can be majorly credited to the achievement of Duke Ellington and his revolutionary song, "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing". ... Duke Ellington and other big band leaders gave many concerts, and a group of improvising musicians made a series of nationwide tours called "Jazz at the Philharmonic". ...

5. Jazz

Certain blacks contributed immensely to the era of jazz, for example, Duke Ellington. ... (Collier, 80) The Cotton Club was the ideal setting for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. ... During the Cotton Club years, the Duke Ellington Orchestra began to win distinction for its thorough musicians and homogeneity. ... He stated, "Good music is music that sounds good" (Southern, 387) This was Duke's constantly reiterated statement. ... Most importantly though, Duke was devoted to his work. ...

6. History of Jazz

One of those pioneers that exemplify the traditions of Jazz was Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1899. ... (Collier, 80) The Cotton Club was the ideal setting for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. ... During the Cotton Club years, the Duke Ellington Orchestra began to win distinction for its thorough musicians and uniformity. ... Most importantly, Duke was devoted to his work. ...

7. All Day And All Night

There have been countless hours when I sit with my saxophone in my hands, as unsure fingers grasp each key in the tiresome effort to learn a new concert piece. At those times, all I do is stare despairingly at the long road ahead and - practice, practice, practice. The slow progression to a finished...

8. Clasical

By lumping the music of all large jazz bands together marketers overlook the different kinds of jazz that large groups have performed: swing (Duke Ellington and Count Basie), bebop (Dizzy Gillespie), cool (Gerry Mulligan, Miles Davis, Shorty Rogers, Gil Evans), hard bop (Gerald Wilson, Charles Mingus), free jazz (some of Sun Ra's work after the l950s) and jazz-rock fusion (Don Ellis's and Maynard Ferguson's groups of the 1970s). ... The former were called swing bands or hot bands (for example, Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's bands). ...

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