[Dixielandjazz] Duke Ellington - A Life By Terry Teachout

[Bert Brandsma]

Interesting review, I need to read the book. Thank you!
A few remarks from my side :
1. about : (the author can be forgiven for, like everyone else, attributing the ban on US musicians in Britain to the Musicians' Union 
rather than, as was the case, the Ministry of Works).- the ban on US musicians was actually the only right thing to do as it was just a reaction on USA politics doing exactly the same the other way, actually up to today. Why should it be strange that a US musician is not allowed to work abroad, when non US musicians are not allowed to play in the US???
2. Ellington's first recordings were not made in 1926, but in 1924, from memory I think it was Choo Choo.
3. The usual remarks about Ellington's longer compositions is a repeat of other people's opinions. Listen to them with another intention : Duke tried to outgrow the usual opinion about him being a ordinary dance band leader.Actually he succeeded with this pieces. - Creole Rhapsody , (only the second version) has a beautiful third theme, played fantastic by Arthur Whetsol, with the best blending saxophone section sound you ever heard in your life. It's really one of the most magic moments soundwise Ellington ever achieved.- Diminuendo and Crescendo in blue IS a composition that makes sence form wise. Only it is 1937 avant garde Jazz, way ahead of it's time and actually beyond the performing capacities of the band members. (this was even the case in 1956 at Newport, there are flaws in execution)It was originally even not issued if I remember correctly, but was a huge succes 19 YEARS later at Newport.What do you call a composer who writes someting almost 20 years before he needs it?   
- Ellington's Black Brown and Beige in his first Carnegy Hall Concert, was the most serious attempt ever to change Jazz from dance to art. But the critics were not ready for that at the time.Almost nobody at the time however realised how fantastic the band had played it. It was condemned by the critics, who succeeded in demotivating Ellington developping further in that direction...... There are hardly any people today who have recordings of it.... how can you make an opinion about it if you never heard it? (I do happen to have one ...... Listen with your ears, not form opinions out of other people's writing!)Think about this: Beethoven's 5th Symphony is considered by far his most succesfull longer work. Hardly ever is his first effort discussed or played.Was it fair to give Ellington only one try? It is very interesting to hear Ellington's Irony in his introduction of his next Carnegy Hall concert about a year later : "One word about tonight's programm, it won't be a heavy one, as usual of course......"
Kind regards,
Bert Brandsma