I’ve been listening to this Steely Dan cover of the Ellington-Miley gem for the first time in over 40 years. It’s amazing how much Pokey sounds like them on this track, even with the domineering psychedelic wah-wah talkbox effect played by Jeff Baxter. duke ellingtonguitarJazzJeff Baxtermusicpokey lafargepretzel logicroots musicsteely danwah-wah
Here is the audio stream via BBC Radio 3 from last night along with a review in The Telegraph. Booker T was apparently asked to join Ellington’s band aged 13, but his mother wouldn’t let him booker Tduke ellingtonmusicsoul musicstax recordsSteve CropperTom Jones
The Smithsonian’s curator of American music explains how the history of two great American innovations—Jazz and baseball—are intertwined. H/T to Ricky Riccardi archivist who scanned the photos used. I especially like the one featured here — Pops with mask and smoke . . . American innovationsbaseballduke ellingtonJazzJohn Edward HasseLouis Armstrongnew orleansRicky RiccardiThe Smithsonian
Obituary in The Telegraph. Charlie Wattsduke ellingtonJazzmusicRonnie ScottSonny RollinsStan TraceyThelonious Monk
The Economist reviews Terry Teachout’s latest Duke: A Life of Duke Ellington. Teachout’s blog is one of the most refined and insightful arts blogs around and he wrote a terrific bio of Pops. A man of gargantuan appetites for food and women as well as music, he believed that doing exactly what he wanted when he wanted…
Albert Murray, author, critic and friend to Ralph Ellison and Duke Ellington, dead at 97 . . . foe of Marxists, Freudians, academics, black nationalists and white segregationists; Like Ellison, he believed conflict was a given, that life was not a formula to be solved but a dance to be danced. Albert Murraybluesduke ellingtonmusicphilosophy and…
This from Ricky Riccardi’s excellent blog. Even with his frustrations over the treatment of his people, Armstrong remained a proud American and one of the country’s greatest cultural ambassadors. In 1959, Armstrong was asked about his title of “Ambassador of Goodwill,” Armstrong told a German reporter, “I’m an American first of all. And I don’t…
The very excellent Keith Spera reports on day 2: Hardesty is best known for his many decades in the Fats Domino band. His tenor is featured on the original recordings of many Domino classics, “I’m Walkin’,” “Blue Monday” and “Ain’t That a Shame” among them. As Domino’s bandleader, Hardesty was known for his explosive, acrobatic solos.…
This from The Atlantic On this theme see this piece. Carla CookDanny Mixonduke ellingtonElla FitzgeraldJazzJohn ColtraneLena HornemusicReligionThelonious Monk
This book looks really promising. Art Blakeyduke ellingtonFrank BarrettJazzmanagementMiles DavisSonny RollinsThelonious Monkyes to the mess
manwithoutqualities 