Duke Ellington

Let me just say welcome to the neighborhood!! I live right up the street at 10th and L. I don't have any Ellington recommendations though I love his music, but I'm sure others can help there.

"The Duke Ellington Reader" by Mark Tucker is a great place to start as far as biographical material goes.

Musically much of his best material is not particularly well recorded, but there are exceptions, "This One's For Blanton" and "Jazz Party In Stereo" quickly come to mind. My personal favorite album is "Duke - 1940 Live From the Crystal Ballroom Fargo, ND". It's a recording of a typical night on the road with Duke near his peak. They were an excellent dance band. "Ellington At Newport" is also a classic live recording.

Another way to appreciate Ellington's (and Billy Strayhorn) genius is to listen to how other artist interpret their songs. A large number of jazz artist have done Ellington tribute albums. Some of the better ones are by Thelonious Monk, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Kenny Burrell.

One last point, don't overlook Duke as a piano player. He's quite accomplished. Check out "Money Jungle" w/ Charles Mingus and Max Roach or "Great Times" w/ Billy Strayhorn.

I recently discovered Dave Grusin's "Homage to Duke" through a local audiophile. Excellent and fresh interpretations of Ellington and Strayhorn classics. Outstanding quality recording, too.

I liked his Duke Ellington's greatest hits from Sony Music Entertainment 1997. It has a very good sound quality. This disc is part of a series of 6 different bands from that era. Sound quality has been digitally remastered and they a decent job of it. I found it in my local library.