JAM Magazine: April/May 1999 Issue: Scrapple From the Apple

by Russ Dantzler

The Year of the Duke
"The music of my race is something which is going to live, something which posterity will honor in a higher sense than merely that of the music of the ballroom today."

The words of a prophetic young Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington.

A quarter century after his passing, long after the demise of most of the ballrooms he referred to, Duke would be proud of the way his music is living on.

Most people are so pre-occupied with turning over the world's odometer to 2000 that 1999's arrival seemed anti-climactic. But Ellington fans have plenty to celebrate this year, with Duke's 100th birthday on April 29. Jazz at Lincoln Center's "Ellington Centennial" plans alone include hundreds of concerts, tours, lectures, films, the department's first book, a PBS special, a recording and more. They kicked it off with an evening of smiles on January 14 at Alice Tully Hall.

"Jazz Talk: 'Happy Reunion' -- Memories of Duke," was both the name and description of the evening. At first glance it looked like a producer's nightmare with 17 musicians on stage, no instruments and individual clip-on microphones. Of the surviving 27 people fortunate enough to have been hired into the Duke Ellington Orchestra by the Maestro himself, these artists were able to attend. Trumpeter Clark Terry couldn't get out of a concert contract. Vocalist Betty Roche, who has since just passed away, wasn't healthy enough. But Harold Ashby, Butch Ballard, Arthur Baron, Aaron Bell, Louie Bellson, Buster Cooper, Milt Grayson, Al Hibbler, John Lamb, Lawrence Lucie, Dolores Parker Morgan, Eddie Preston, Vince Prudente, Monsignor John Sanders, Joya Sherrill, Jimmy Woode and Britt Woodman were moderated in reminiscences by author Robert O'Meally. After they got warmed up, we got to hear first-hand what it was like to have one of the world's greatest diplomats for a boss.

Ellington bassist Aaron Bell told of a night when they were to battle the Basie Band. Duke and Count decided to have some fun with their guys and switched music books before it began. "It didn't sound too good," said Bell.

We also learned that Joya Sherrill wrote the lyrics to "Take the 'A' Train" when she was only 15.

And guitarist Lawrence Lucie recalled the earlier days, having played in the orchestra in 1934.

Trombonist Art Baron said Ellington was both a master musician and a master magician. He explained that Duke would stand next to a soloist and admire him on stage, making that artist play better than he knew he could. This seemed to be the common theme in each description, that Duke would make each person in his band feel appreciated for his or her specific talent. There was no competition, only admiration! Duke infused his musicians with confidence to be the very best, sometimes in the very unique roles he had created for them. He would then blend all of that carefully-chosen talent into one gorgeous sound.

We were also treated to the music of several of these veterans at a "House Rent"-style party afterward. Milt Grayson, Joya Sherrill and Al Hibbler sang as they were backed variously by Louie Bellson, Aaron Bell, Jimmy Woode, Britt Woodman and Butch Ballard. Youngsters Wynton Marsalis and Wycliffe Gordon were allowed to join in.

On April 17 Wynton Marsalis will lead the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, the middle of a two-month tour of 37 one-nighters. Lincoln Center's education outreach program has been and will be teaching Ellington to thousands of students.

When Duke's 100th rolls around, it will be the first of four nights in New York City for 20 finalist high school bands in the "Essentially Ellington" jazz band competition and festival.

Every jazz fan will likely celebrate Ellington's centennial is some way. I'll be happy if Duke Ellington enters Y2K as more of a household -- and classroom -- name.

Send comments and questions to Russ Dantzler at: hotjazz@idt.net. And visit the HotJazz website at: http://soho.ios.com/~hotjazz/HOTJAZZ.html

RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1999 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		by Russ Dantzler The Year of the Duke "The music of my race is something which is going to live, something which posterity will honor in a higher sense than merely that of the music of the ballroom today." The words of a prophetic young Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. A quarter century after his passing, long after the demise of most of the ballrooms he referred to, Duke would be proud of the way his music is living on. Most people are so pre-occupied with turning over the world's odometer to 2000 that 1999's arrival seemed anti-climactic. But Ellington fans have plenty to celebrate this year, with Duke's 100th birthday on April 29. Jazz at Lincoln Center's "Ellington Centennial" plans alone include hundreds of concerts, tours, lectures, films, the department's first book, a PBS special, a recording and more. They kicked it off with an evening of smiles on January 14 at Alice Tully Hall. "Jazz Talk: 'Happy Reunion' -- Memories of Duke," was both the name and description of the evening. At first glance it looked like a producer's nightmare with 17 musicians on stage, no instruments and individual clip-on microphones. Of the surviving 27 people fortunate enough to have been hired into the Duke Ellington Orchestra by the Maestro himself, these artists were able to attend. Trumpeter Clark Terry couldn't get out of a concert contract. Vocalist Betty Roche, who has since just passed away, wasn't healthy enough. But Harold Ashby, Butch Ballard, Arthur Baron, Aaron Bell, Louie Bellson, Buster Cooper, Milt Grayson, Al Hibbler, John Lamb, Lawrence Lucie, Dolores Parker Morgan, Eddie Preston, Vince Prudente, Monsignor John Sanders, Joya Sherrill, Jimmy Woode and Britt Woodman were moderated in reminiscences by author Robert O'Meally. After they got warmed up, we got to hear first-hand what it was like to have one of the world's greatest diplomats for a boss. Ellington bassist Aaron Bell told of a night when they were to battle the Basie Band. Duke and Count decided to have some fun with their guys and switched music books before it began. "It didn't sound too good," said Bell. We also learned that Joya Sherrill wrote the lyrics to "Take the 'A' Train" when she was only 15. And guitarist Lawrence Lucie recalled the earlier days, having played in the orchestra in 1934. Trombonist Art Baron said Ellington was both a master musician and a master magician. He explained that Duke would stand next to a soloist and admire him on stage, making that artist play better than he knew he could. This seemed to be the common theme in each description, that Duke would make each person in his band feel appreciated for his or her specific talent. There was no competition, only admiration! Duke infused his musicians with confidence to be the very best, sometimes in the very unique roles he had created for them. He would then blend all of that carefully-chosen talent into one gorgeous sound. We were also treated to the music of several of these veterans at a "House Rent"-style party afterward. Milt Grayson, Joya Sherrill and Al Hibbler sang as they were backed variously by Louie Bellson, Aaron Bell, Jimmy Woode, Britt Woodman and Butch Ballard. Youngsters Wynton Marsalis and Wycliffe Gordon were allowed to join in. On April 17 Wynton Marsalis will lead the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at the Folly Theater in Kansas City, the middle of a two-month tour of 37 one-nighters. Lincoln Center's education outreach program has been and will be teaching Ellington to thousands of students. When Duke's 100th rolls around, it will be the first of four nights in New York City for 20 finalist high school bands in the "Essentially Ellington" jazz band competition and festival. Every jazz fan will likely celebrate Ellington's centennial is some way. I'll be happy if Duke Ellington enters Y2K as more of a household -- and classroom -- name. Send comments and questions to Russ Dantzler at: hotjazz@idt.net. And visit the HotJazz website at: http://soho.ios.com/~hotjazz/HOTJAZZ.html RETURN TO APRIL/MAY 1999 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.