[Dixielandjazz] Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn

[Stephen G Barbone]

Al Levy wrote about Tizol's Caravan and Norm Vickers posted a note  
about Strayhorn's A Train. Both examples  contradict the recent  
Ellington biography statement by Harvey Cohen that none of Ellington's  
band members composed any significant tunes on their own.

A Train was surely a tour de force for Strayhorn. To see Billy playing  
it with Duke's Orchestra, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjc7mu9leYw

At the end listen to Duke's comments about him.  Apparently Ellington  
thought Strayhorn composed some significant tunes on his own. <grin>  
Note also during the performance, at about the 1 minute and 35 second  
mark, Paul Gonsalves nodding out. <grin>. Not the first time he was  
caught on video doing it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband