Edward kennedy duke ellington 1899 to 1974 was as pianist one of the most important innovators of the stride piano. Included is some of ellington s band repertoire that is hard to find. Duke ellington has 120 books on goodreads with 1651 ratings. New orleans lowdown sweet mamma memphis wail dicty glide immigration blues black beauty. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of duke ellington. Duke ellington bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Her titles for middlegrade readers include solo girl, raven in a dove house, silent thunder, and let it shine. Edward kennedy duke ellington, king of the keys, was. Duke ellington as pianist contains numerous detailed transcriptions accompanied by analytical discourse that is mostly beyond the comprehension of the ordinary unschooled music fan. Cottontail half the fun isfahan main stem old king dooji warm valley. The story starts out when young duke ellington is learning to play the piano and hears ragtime music being played. Listen to your favorite songs from the pianist by duke ellington now.
Click download or read online button to get duke ellington as pianist book now. Stories of black women freedom fighters, a coretta scott king honor winner. He led his orchestra from 1923 until his death, his career spanning over 50 years. This book calls up the spirit of duke ellington and his band through its whirling, swirling art and its vivid language. There are 75 compositions covering the years from the 1920s to the 1960s. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and bigband leader. The story of one of americas greatest composers, duke ellington, is lavishly told here in jazzinspired prose. In the opinion of bob blumenthal of the boston globe, in the century since his birth, there has been no greater composer, american or otherwise, than edward kennedy ellington. The first biography of the composer written by a fellow musician and africanamerican, the book traces ellington s. Ellington made his first professional appearance as a jazz pianist in 1916. Duke ellington jazz piano by duke ellington, paperback. Duke ellington composed over 3000 songs, including. Books by duke ellington author of music is my mistress. Ella fitzgerald sings the duke ellington song book wikipedia.
Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Ellington could have had a sizeable career simply as a pianist, surely a sounder point is that the 1961 set was another of many. Duke ellington, one of the most influential figures in american music, comes alive in this comprehensive biography with engaging activities. She is also the author of the picture books alvin ailey. Wynton marsalis artistic director, jazz at lincoln center ellington 101 a beginners guide table of contents a brief biography of duke ellington 4 meet the ellingtonians 9 additional resources 15. This ourstory theme explores the story of one of americas signature art forms and greatest musicians. Students are listening for vocabulary words, songs to listen to, and instruments to identify.
List of books and articles about duke ellington online. Duke ellington by andrea and brian pinkney is a book celebrating the life of duke ellington, who is one of the most inspirational jazz musicians of his time. At his parents insistence, he took piano lessons and, by the time he was 19, music was. Ellington has been profiled in many books through the years and he. Ellington plays the piano, billy strayhorn once observed, but his real instrument is his band. Her playful use of language echoes the era in which duke was king. In a sentimental mood from the jazz pianists ultimate. Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington, april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american jazz composer, pianist and bandleader, one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all american music. The piano was at the heart and soul of duke ellington s approach to making music. Fortunately he did record a fair amount of trio albums through the years so there is plenty of evidence as to his unique style which was both modern and traditional at the same time. The pianist is a studio album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington compiled from sessions in 1966 and 1970, and released on the.
There is probably nothing incorrect about that ellington actually played his orchestra more than the piano, but that doesnt mean his piano playing was inferior. Another stunning picture book biography of a prominent twentiethcentury africanamerican in the arts, from the creative team behind alvin ailey. Duke ellington s most popular book is music is my mistress. Dec 25, 20 this was recorded off abctv in australia in the eighties they had a jazz weekend with various abc celebrities of the time introducing different shows. Hearing the music of the poolroom pianists ignited ellingtons love for the instrument, and he began to. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. The pianist by duke ellington, edward kennedy ellington. This picture book biography focuses not so much on the events in duke ellington s life, but on his music, his orchestra, his skill with improvisation, and his impact in the world of jazz. He started playing piano at the age of seven, and by the time he was 15, he was composing. Ellington used his band as a musical laboratory for his new compositions and shaped his writing specifically to showcase the talents of his bandmembers, many of whom remained with him. Louis toodleo, black and tan fantasy, it dont mean a thing, and mood indigo, to his more complex works such as reminiscing in tempo and black, brown and beige, to his. The following bibliographical information is drawn from periodicals and books present in the archive of the jazzinstitut darmstadt.
During the midseventies, a lead sheet of in a sentimental mood appeared in the real book, the most widely disseminated jazz manual ever. Duke ellington, bill evans, and one night in new york city the. Buy duke ellington jazz piano music 01 by duke ellington isbn. Ella fitzgerald sings the duke ellington song book is a 1957 studio album by the american jazz singer ella fitzgerald, accompanied by duke ellington and his orchestra, focusing on ellington s songs part of fitzgeralds song book series, it is the only one where the composer is also featured as a performer and the first occasion fitzgerald recorded with ellington. Duke ellingtons most popular book is music is my mistress. As a composer, arranger, pianist and bandleader, he was a major force. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Nonetheless, these technical details should not deter jazz fans from reading and enjoying the book. Duke ellington has 120 books on goodreads with 1662 ratings.
He was a smoothtalkin, slicksteppin, piano playin kid, writes master wordsmith andrea pinkney in the rhythmic, fluid, swinging prose of this excellent biography for early readers. The pianist by duke ellington on amazon music unlimited. Then youll definitely need some duke ellington as a cornerstone of it. J brian pinkney a brief recounting of the career of this jazz musician and composer who, along with his orchestra, created music that was beyond category. When he was a boy, edward kennedy ellingtons first love was baseball. The piano prince and his orchestra, 1999 caldecott honor book. The pianist is a studio album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington compiled from sessions in 1966 and 1970, and released on the fantasy label in 1974. This new folio celebrates the 100th anniversary of duke ellington s life. He codified the sound of america in the 20th century. The piano prince and his orchestra by andea davis pinkney and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Though many jazz fans think of ellington as a pianist too, few scholars have examined. Piano in the background is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded and released on the columbia label in 1960.
Duke ellington 1899 1974 duke ellington is one of the premier musicians of the 20th century. Duke ellington was a famous american composer and musician of the 20th century with an incredible role in the history of jazz. Despite this disappointment, a broadway production of ellingtons beggars holiday, his sole book musical, premiered on. This is a most fitting tribute to a great man who proudly celebrated the history of. The piano was at the heart and soul of duke ellingtons approach to making music. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer. Overall, duke ellington is a great book that celebrates african american history as well as jazz music. A pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer, ellington and his band played together for 50 years. A life of duke ellington, by terry teachout by david. Music lovers everywhere have hailed duke ellington as one of the greatest geniuses of jazz. Ellington was an accomplished and influential jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and cultural diplomat. It sends you on a voyage back to the early 1900s and you can practically hear duke ellington and his band playing. Based on lengthy interviews with ellington s bandmates, family, and friends, duke ellington and his world offers a fresh look at this legendary composer.
Duke ellington s musical career lasted about for fifty five years,and this man, who was the greatest composer and band leader of all times,and also one of the most amazing and adventurous piano players of jazz,recorded only a few albums in solo or trio setting. The piano prince and his orchestra caldecott honor book by pinkney, andrea and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Although andrea davis pinkney more than once pushes the lingo too far, leaving readers sprawling in the wake of her patter, mostly it is a fun and earopening ride, an exciting if taxing introduction to the jargon. Now these titles are available for the first time in the u. There are two kinds of worries those you can do something about and those you cant. The piano prince and his orchestra reprint by davis pinkney, andrea, pinkney, brian isbn. The piano player, the treasury shows, the complete gus wildi recordings article by george kanzler, published on may 28, 2006 at all about jazz. Andrea davis pinkney has written several acclaimed picture books, works of non fiction, and novels. Michael j budds this volume by matthew cooper represents the first book length study devoted exclusively to duke ellington as pianist. Books have been written about him, his image is on a u. The book begins with ellington s childhood, and describes his early interest in music and the beginning of his career. Andrea davis pinkneys text grabs young listeners with its jazzy beat. Explore his life and legacy, and then test your understanding with a.
As such, it should be regarded as a substantial contribution to the ellington. Duke ellington had so many talents composer, arranger, bandleader, personality that his skills as a pianist could easily be overlooked. Duke ellington is a biography of the legendary composer. The illustrations really fit well with the plot of the story. Duke ellington as pianist download ebook pdf, epub. The composer and bandleader duke ellington 18991947 was a largely selftaught pianist who was influenced by jazz and ragtime performers. By 1918 he had formed a band, and after appearances in nightclubs in harlem he became one of the most famous figures in american jazz. American composer, pianist, and orchestra leader duke ellington was the first genuine jazz composer of truly international status. Pinkney uses the scratchboard technique in his illustrations to show color and textures in his books. In addition to his supreme musical gifts as a bandleader, composer and. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. Im nobodys baby ill see you in my dreams i cried for you at sundown you are my lucky star. That statement has assumed a lapidary quality over the years, helping to reinforce the widelyheld view that duke ellington was a composer first, a performer second. This file gives you cards to hand out to your students while you read the book to them.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Duke ellington all the best full album greatest jazz musician duration. The piano prince and his orchestra, then explore other aspects of jazz history through the other related activities and books. Edward kennedy duke ellington, king of the keys, was born on april 29, 1899, in washington, d. Expand product details the story of one of americas greatest composers, duke ellington, is lavishly told here in jazzinspired prose. Yet, aside from ellington s own rather unrevealing autobiography and a collection of reminiscences of his band members, no indepth biography of this preeminent figure of twentiethcentury music and entertainment has previously existed. The piano prince and his orchestra is a childrens picture book written by andrea davis pinkney and illustrated by brian pinkney. Check out the pianist by duke ellington on amazon music. The piano prince and his orchestra, 1999 caldecott honor book duke ellington.
Born edward kennedy ellington, duke ellington was one of the founding fathers of jazz music. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra, which he led from 1923 until his death over a career spanning more than six decades. The life of duke ellington 19271950, cambridge 1999 book. Like many of duke ellington s songs, in a sentimental mood started off as an instrumental composition and received lyrics later on. The young duke, born edward kennedy ellington in washington d. A guide to help you play better jazz piano by ron drotos history and overview. Andrea davis pinkneys text is well complemented by the rich, colorful illustrations by her husband and collaborator, brian pinkney.
Seventy lost gems from the pen of duke ellington arranged as advanced piano solos that capture the music exactly as it was written. An originator of bigband jazz, duke ellington was an american composer, pianist and bandleader who composed thousands of scores over his 50year career. The duke is frequently cited as the greatest jazz man of them all, with his main rivals for the crown being louis armstrong, charlie parker and miles davis. Duke ellington was the most important composer in the history of jazz as well as being a bandleader who held his large group together continuously for almost 50 years. As composer he published nearly 2,000 compositions, of which 100 became jazz standards by and by. Because pianist orchestra leadercomposer edward kennedy duke ellington was deceptively selfeffacing about his formidable skills as a pianist as he was about nearly everything it is still far too easy even in this centennial year of plaudits galore for listeners and critics alike to forget that as the late journalist ralph j. It is a chargedup introduction to duke ellington, his band, and his music. Duke ellington was an american composer, pianist and bandleader of jazz orchestras. Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington, 18991974, american jazz musician and composer, b. A stunning introduction to duke ellington s life and work, the book includes a bibliography, videography, and list of museum exhibitions dedicated to ellington.
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