The brilliant Duke of Jazz - Duke Ellington. Duke Ellington: biography, best compositions, interesting facts, listen to Duke Ellington short biography

Duke Ellington - Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington - was born in Washington on April 29, 1899, died on May 24, 1974 in New York. Famous experimental composer, virtuoso pianist, arranger, leader of the legendary orchestra, “pillar” and master of American jazz. Posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

Ellington managed to keep his band together during the difficult post-war period for big bands, which brought with it new moods and musical tastes. When things got really tough, Ellington paid the soloists from his composer fees. This was not only gratitude and a desire to support his sidemen, but probably also a desire to preserve the opportunity to work in his own compositional style, when, in fact, music is born only during rehearsals. “The band itself was his instrument,” said Billy Strayhorn. Ellington needed to hear the orchestra perform his composition. Only after this could he refine it, remove or add passages, and strengthen the role of individual solos.

The return of Duke and his band took place in 1956 at the Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island. The incredible solos of tenor saxophonist Paul Gonzalves in "Diminuendo and Crescendo In Blue", Johnny Hodges in "Jeep's Blues" on alto saxophone, and the deafening ovation of the audience became a jazz legend. In the same year, Duke appeared on the cover of Time. In 1959, at the request of Otto Preminger, he first wrote the full soundtrack for the mainstream film "Anatomy of a Murder" starring Jimmy Stewart and had previously contributed to composing music for television and films (including the famous composition "Black and. Tan Fantasy" for the 1929 short film of the same name.) The soundtrack to the film "Paris Blues" followed in 1961, starring Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier as jazz musicians living in Paris.

Ellington's first foreign performance took place in 1933 in England. The entire 60s are spent on long overseas tours, including diplomatic trips at the request of the US State Department. Ellington, together with Strayhorn, conveys his impressions of travel in amazing long compositions, including “Far East Suite” from 1966. Together they compose works dedicated to the works of the classics who influenced them. So, in 1963, variations on the theme of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” appeared. And in 1957, the suite “Such Sweet Thunder”, inspired by the work of Shakespeare, was recorded. In collaboration with Ella Fitzgerald, albums are being released that continue the Songbook series by producer Norman Granz.

Being an excellent pianist, Ellington recorded joint albums in this capacity with John Coltrane (1963), Coleman Hawkins (1963) and Frank Sinatra. The same year, the album "Money Jungle" was released, recorded with Charles Mingus and Max Roach. In 1965, his concert of sacred music (“First Sacred Concert”) was performed for the first time at Grace Cathedral (San Francisco). Increasingly turning to religious themes in his later years, Ellington would complete the trilogy with the Second (1968) and Third (1973) concertos.

During his life, Duke received many awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian award. In 1965, he was recommended for the Pulitzer Prize for his 40 years of contribution to the development of the art of music, but the commission rejected the application. This would have upset anyone, but Ellington reacted this way: “Fate was kind to me. She did not allow fame to spoil me at such a young age.” He was 66 then.

Ellington did not rest on his laurels and did not stop composing music. When asked about his “best works,” he usually answered that they would be “the next five, which are already on the way.” However - for his fans - he always included several of his standards in every performance. Already dying, he continued to write the opera buffa "Queenie Pie".

Duke died at the age of 75 on May 24, 1974. The service took place at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in New York. Buried in Woodlawn Cemetery. In 1976, his longtime companion Beatrice "Evie" Ellis was buried next to him. Duke's only son, Mercer Kennedy Ellington, not only took over the leadership of the Duke Ellington Orchestra, but also took care of preserving and disseminating the legacy of his art. Mercer Ellington died on February 8, 1996 in Copenhagen, Denmark at the age of 76. Duke's only sister, Ruth Ellington Boatwright, still lives in New York. Ruth and Mercer were able to preserve the memorabilia and documents - evidence of Duke Ellington's amazing creative life and talent - and donated them to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, where they remain to this day.

Edward Ellington was born in 1899, in Washington, into a respectable African-American family. He had a very affectionate relationship with his mother, who instilled in the boy a sense of confidence and self-esteem, as well as religiosity. At school, for his self-confidence and a certain foppishness, he was given the nickname “Duke” (Duke). While still at school, he wrote his first composition, and this attracted the attention of 3 girls at once. ...

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Edward Ellington was born in 1899, in Washington, into a respectable African-American family. He had a very affectionate relationship with his mother, who instilled in the boy a sense of confidence and self-esteem, as well as religiosity. At school, for his self-confidence and a certain foppishness, he was given the nickname “Duke” (Duke). While still at school, he wrote his first composition, and this attracted the attention of 3 girls at once. Then he decided to become a jazz pianist.

In the early 20s, he organized his own orchestra “Washingtonians” (Washingtonians). After several years of struggle, luck smiled on him - their team was taken to play “Cotton Club”. He was extremely popular in England, where he was even accepted by the Royal Family. After this meeting he wrote the Queen Suite, which he wrote down in one copy and sent to Elizabeth II.

Duke Ellington wrote not only jazz music, but also spiritual music (Sacred Concerts). His piano compositions are on a par with the works of Debussy, Chopin and Ravel. In terms of the total number of works ever performed, he is the absolute leader in the world. In 1971, Duke came to Moscow and even tried to accompany Alexei Kozlov on the balalaika.

American jazz pianist and composer Duke Ellington is an iconic figure in the musical Olympus of the 20th century. His work had a huge influence on world jazz culture.

Young Duke Ellington

Childhood

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in the Colored Quarter. His family differed from its neighbors in its fairly high income. His father worked in decent houses and earned good money, so the boy’s childhood was well-fed and calm.

Duke Ellington was destined to become a musician from childhood -

His close relationship connected him not with his father, but with his mother. She was a sensitive person, very pious and passionately loving music. From an early age, his mother shaped the boy’s worldview. It was she who first began to teach him how to play the piano, and from the age of 7 he began taking lessons from a teacher.

At the age of 11, little Edward began to compose his first compositions. The boy not only studied music, he lived it from early childhood. It often happened in class that he would forget about his assignments and beat out rhythms on his desk, choosing the music.

It is interesting that Ellington did not come up with the sonorous nickname Duke (translated from English as “Duke”) for himself, as many jazz players did in those years. This nickname stuck with him since childhood, as his neighbor-pianist jokingly called him, emphasizing his neat appearance and ability to keep himself on top.

In 1914, the boy entered Armstrong High School. In the evenings after classes he sits and plays the piano for hours. But it is interesting that with all his talent and passion for music, Duke was never limited only to it.

The guy was very successful in painting, and for a long time dreamed of becoming a professional artist. In 1917, Ellington entered art school and won a prestigious poster competition. This victory changed something in the soul of the future maestro. He gives up drawing and begins to study only music.

Youth years

The beauty of jazz music is that it was not created behind the closed doors of conservatories under the strict supervision of professional teachers. It seemed that jazz was simply flowing through the streets and everyone could draw from this sea.

Duke Ellington often visited musical apartments, listened to records and tried to adopt musical techniques. Constant rotation in the circle of musicians gave Duke something that the best teacher could not have given - he learned to feel ragtime.

The first, almost accidental, performances fell in love with the public, and the name of Duke Ellington began to gain popularity in narrow circles. Duke begins to collaborate as a pianist with the successful orchestras of Sam Wooding and Doc Perry.

Music career

At the end of 1918, Duke Ellington and several friends formed the ensemble The Washingtonians. For now, they play more for themselves, boldly experimenting with music, and are already beginning to dream of success. The ensemble goes to New York, but the first attempt to conquer the big city ends in failure and the group returns back.

In 1923, Ellington made a second attempt to conquer New York. Gradually, Ellington takes over the leadership role and transforms the team to his taste. New instruments are added and old members are replaced.

All the transformations only benefited the team and its fame grew more and more. Ellington experiments with arrangements and sounds, achieving an amazing level of music. By 1930, Duke Ellington's orchestra became a model for musicians of that time. The team travels a lot throughout America and Europe.

Career decline

But in the life of a jazz player there were not only dizzying ascents. The early 1950s were a difficult time, when public interest in jazz music disappeared. For a long time, Duke kept the group afloat only thanks to his own financial contributions from his income as a composer.

People begin to leave the team in search of a better life. For several years, Duke Ellington stops performing in order to return again and conquer the whole world with his serious works, which have become much more complex and interesting.

In the summer of 1956, at a jazz festival, he triumphantly returned to the big stage. His photograph graces the cover of Time, a new contract is signed with him, and the album Ellington at Newport becomes the most successful in the musician’s career.

Find out how Ellington transformed Tchaikovsky's music -

Duke Ellington's visit to the USSR

On his 1971 world tour, Ellington and his band visited several cities in the USSR. These performances made a great impression both on the audience and on the musician himself.

Duke himself recalled that many of his concerts there lasted several hours. Time after time, people called the musicians for an encore, and the flattered performers tirelessly repeated their beautiful melodies.

Personal life

Charming and seductive Duke Ellington has always attracted many women. He never turned down one-night stands. Duke did not strive to find the perfect girl; many of his girlfriends were not beauties from a generally accepted point of view.

The brilliant Ellington charmed women so much that many of them left their spouses in the hope of becoming a permanent girlfriend of the great musician. But only a few beauties managed to captivate the heart of the fickle ladies' man for a long time.

Edna Thompson is the official wife of the maestro, whom he married in 1918. The couple had a son, Mercer. Although the artist’s constant connections on the side quickly destroyed the marriage, Edna remained Duke’s official wife until her death.

Ellington's other serious passion was Mildred Dixon, with whom he lived for 10 years.

Mildred was forced out of his life by another beauty - Beatrice Ellis. She lived in New York for almost 40 years, considering herself Ellington's wife.

She expected that after Edna's death, she would receive a formal marriage proposal. But even the death of her wife did not change her status. Evie spent her entire life in a relationship with Ellington, showered with gifts in anticipation of rare visits from her beloved.

In 1959, another bright woman, Fernanda de Castro Monte, burst into the musician’s life. They had a very bright romance, but Duke refused to marry her under the pretext that he was already married to Evie.

Despite the large number of women in his life, Duke Ellington said that his only lover is music, and only she can play the first violin in his life.

last years of life

Almost until his death, Duke Ellington had no intention of retiring. He composed a lot and traveled with concerts all over the world. In 1973, doctors diagnosed him with lung cancer.

The great musician died on May 24, 1974 from pneumonia. This is how the famous musician who brought jazz to a new level of sound died. Even death did not stop the flow of awards, which continued to be awarded to him posthumously.

Cultural heritage

The importance of Duke Ellington's contribution to jazz is difficult to overestimate. He was not just a talented musician who performed jazz well and attracted audiences.

He was a reformer of the old and the discoverer of a new sound style. He managed to combine musical instruments in such a way that each of them revealed itself to the maximum, without overshadowing the others.

Duke Ellington, as a composer, composed a lot for musicals and films. For his work, he has repeatedly received prestigious awards, such as the Grammy and the Pulitzer Prize.

On our website you will find a fragment written by James L. Collier.

Edward Kennedy was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, USA. Unlike many of his black compatriots, he had a completely happy childhood. His father James Edward was a butler and briefly served in the White House. Later he worked as a copyist in the Navy. Mother was deeply religious and played the piano well. Therefore, religion and music played a big role in his upbringing.

The boy was surrounded by prosperity, peace and parental love. His mother gave him piano lessons. From the age of seven, Ellington studied with a music teacher, and from about 11 years old he composed music on his own. Then comes a passion for ragtime and dance music. Ellington wrote his first ragtime composition, “Soda Fountain Rag,” in 1914.

Despite his musical success, Ellington is studying at a specialized school for applied sciences and plans to become a professional artist. Wins the competition for the best advertising poster in the city of Washington. Works as a poster artist.

However, he does not forget music, improves his technique of playing the piano, and studies the theory of harmony. The pleasure of drawing and working with paints wears off. Refuses an offer of a position at the Pratt Institute for Applied Arts.

Ultimately, in 1917, he decides to become a professional musician. Undergoes informal training with renowned Washington musicians. Leads local ensembles.

In 1919, Duke met Sonny Greer, drummer of the first Ellington band.

In 1922, Ellington, Greer, and Hardwick made their first trip to New York for a short engagement. In New York, Ellington takes informal lessons from renowned piano masters James P. Johnson and Willie Lyon Smith.

At the age of 23, Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington began playing in the Washingtonians quintet, over which he gradually took control. The ensemble consisted of his friends - drummer Sonny Greer, saxophonist Otto Hardwick, trumpeter Arthur Whetsall.

Because of his love for smart clothes, Ellington received the nickname “Duke” from his friends.

In the fall of 1923, Ellington's ensemble went to New York, received an engagement at Barron's club in Harlem, and then to Time Square at the Hollywood Club.

In 1926, Ellington met Irving Mills, who became Ellington's manager for an extended period.

Under pressure from Mills, Ellington officially became the leader of a ten-piece jazz ensemble in 1927, under the new brand "Duke Ellington and His Orchestra". The new band's first significant success was regular performances at the prestigious New York jazz club Cotton Club. Duke’s famous compositions “Creole Love Call” and “Black & Tan Fantasy”, “The Mooche” and others appear.

In 1929, the orchestra performed in the Florenz Ziegfeld revue. Regular radio broadcasts of the orchestra's programs from the Cotton Club make Ellington and his orchestra famous. In February 1931, the Ellington Orchestra opened its first concert tour. That same year, an instrumental version of one of his standards, "Mood Indigo", published by the Victor label, became very popular.

The composer aims for more complex musical subjects. Working on "Creole Rhapsody". In 1931-33, his plays “Limehouse Blues” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing” with vocals by Ivy Anderson became popular. Three years before the official start of the swing era, Duke Ellington had already, in fact, laid the foundation for a new style. Important milestones along the way were the 1933 themes “Sophisticated Lady” and “Stormy Weather.”

The first compositions of the Duke Ellington Orchestra are associated with the “jungle style”, as well as with the “mood style”. In them, Ellington uses the individual capabilities of the musicians: trumpeters Charlie Ervis, Bubber Miley, Tricky Sam Nanton, alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, baritone saxophonist Harry Carney. The skill of these performers gives the orchestra a special “sound”.

Tours in Europe bring great success. The orchestra performs at the London Palladium, and Duke meets with the Prince of Wales, Duke of Kent. Then performances in South America and a tour of the USA. The repertoire consists mainly of compositions by Ellington.

At that moment, the orchestra is played by saxophonists Johnny Hodges, Otto Hardwick, Barney Bigard, Harry Carney, trumpeters Cootie Williams, Frank Jenkins, Arthur Whetsall, trombonists Tricky Sam Nanton, Juan Tizol, Lawrence Brown. Ellington has been called the first truly American composer, and his swing standard “Caravan,” co-written with trombonist Juan Tizol, has traveled the world.

The composition Reminiscing in Tempo, written in 1935, unlike most of the author’s other melodies, did not have a dance rhythm. The reason was that Ellington wrote this song after the loss of his mother and a long period of stagnation in his creativity. As the composer himself later said, while writing this melody, the sheets of his music notebook were wet with tears. Reminiscing in Tempo was played by Duke with virtually no improvisation. According to the musician, his main desire was to leave everything in this song as he originally wrote.

In 1938, he amazed the audience with a joint performance with musicians of the Philharmonic Orchestra at the St. Regis Hotel in New York.

At the end of 1930, new musicians joined the orchestra - double bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster. Their influence on Ellington's "sound" was so fundamental that their relatively short tenure earned them the name Blanton-Webster Band among jazz fans. With this lineup, Ellington makes his second European tour.

The orchestra's updated "sound" was captured in the 1941 composition "Take the "A" Train." Among the composer's works of this period, instrumental works “Diminuendo in Blue” and “Crescendo in Blue” occupy an important place.

The skill of the composer and musician is recognized not only by critics, but also by such outstanding academic musicians as Igor Stravinsky and Leopold Stokowski.

During the Second World War, Ellington created a number of large instrumental pieces. On January 23, 1943, he gave a concert of his works at the famous Carnegie Hall, where the premiere of “Black, Brown and Beige” took place. All funds raised from the concert go to help the Red Army.

After the end of the war, despite the decline of the big band era, Ellington continued to tour with his new concert program. Collections from performances, which began to gradually fall, he supplements with fees that he receives as a composer. This allows you to save the orchestra.

The beginning of 1950 was the most dramatic period in the life of the Ellington band. Feeling a decline in interest in jazz, key musicians leave the orchestra one after another. For several years, Duke Ellington went into the shadows.

However, already in the summer of 1956 there was a triumphant return to the big stage at the Russian Jazz Festival. in Newport. One of the festival's highlights is tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves' 27-square solo in an updated version of "Dimuendo and Crescendo in Blue." The composer comes into focus again, his photo graces the cover of Time magazine, and he signs a new contract with Columbia Records. The first release - the concert "Ellington at Newport" - became the most successful and best-selling album in the musician's career.

In subsequent years, in collaboration with Billy Strayhorn, Duke wrote a number of works on classical themes. Such Sweet Thunder, a 1957 Shakespearean suite, features “Lady Mac,” “Madness in Great Ones,” about Hamlet, and “Half the Fun,” about Antony and Cleopatra. The uniqueness of the recording is that the orchestra soloists, like actors in a theater, performed the leading roles and carried out entire numbers. Together with Strayhorn, he wrote variations on themes from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” and Grieg’s “Peer Gynt.”

Duke Ellington is once again becoming a sought-after concert performer. His tour routes expanded, and in the fall of 1958 the artist again traveled around Europe on a concert tour. Duke is presented to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at an arts festival in England.

In 1961 and 1962, Ellington recorded with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane and other outstanding jazz masters.

In 1963, Ellington's orchestra made a new trip to Europe and then to the Middle and Far East at the request of the US State Department.

Since the mid-1960s, the composer has walked away from the Grammy Awards as a winner 11 times.

In 1965, he received the award in the category “Best Large Jazz Ensemble” for the album “Ellington “66”. The track “In the Beginning, God” was awarded in 1966 as the best jazz composition. The band performs at the White House, in the Virgin Islands and again in Europe. Performs with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

In September he begins a series of sacred music concerts. The artist will regularly hold these concerts under the vaults of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

In 1966 and 1967, Ellington conducted two series of European concerts with Ella Fitzgerald.

With his team he goes on a long tour of the Middle and Far East. This tour coincided with the release of the album “Far East Suite”, which brought its author a victory in the category “best large jazz ensemble”.

With the same wording, Ellington took away the Grammy from the 1968 ceremony for the album “And His Mother Called Him Bill.” The composer dedicated this album to his colleague and close friend Billy Strayhorn, who died in 1967.

A reception at the White House in 1969 to celebrate Duke's 70th birthday. Presentation of the Order of Liberty by President Richard Nixon. New European tour. In Paris, in honor of Duke Ellington's seventieth birthday, a banquet was held at which he was greeted by Maurice Chevalier.

Performance at the Monterey Jazz Festival with new compositions “River”, “New Orleans Suite” and “The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse”. Visiting Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.

In 1971, on April 16, the premiere of the composition “Suite For Gutela” took place at New York’s Lincoln Center. Performance at the Newport Jazz Festival. Visits the USSR with concerts. In Leningrad he plays in front of the future founder of the State Jazz Philharmonic, David Semenovich Goloshchekin. And then he goes to Europe and makes a second tour to South America and Mexico.

The orchestra that Ellington took with him to the Soviet Union in 1971 consisted of six saxophones: Russell Prokop, Paul Gonzalves, Harold Ashby, Norris Turney, Harold Geese Minerv and Harry Carney. Trumpets: Cootie Williams, Mercer Ellington, Harold Money Johnson, Eddie Preston and Johnny Coles. Trombones: Malcolm Taylor, Mitchell Booty Wood and Chuck Connors. The bassist was Joe Benjamin, the drums were Rufus Speedy Jones, and the two vocalists were Nell Brookshire and Tony Watkins.

When the plane carrying Duke landed in Leningrad, he was greeted by a large orchestra marching across the airfield and playing Dixieland music. Everywhere he performed with his band, tickets were completely sold out. There were ten thousand people at each of Ellington's three concerts in Kyiv and more than twelve thousand at each of his performances in Moscow. During his visit to the USSR, Ellington visited the Bolshoi Theater, the Hermitage and met with composer Aram Khachaturian. Ellington conducted the Moscow Radio Jazz Orchestra. The newspaper Pravda was very generous in its praise of Ellington and his orchestra. A music critic writing for the newspaper was struck by “their priceless sense of lightness. They came on stage without any special ceremony, just one after another, like friends usually gather for a jam session."

In 1973, the third “Concert of Sacred Music” took place, premiering at Westminster Abbey, London. European tour. Duke Ellington takes part in the royal concert at the Palladium. Visit to Zambia and Ethiopia. Awarded the Imperial Star in Ethiopia and the Legion of Honor in France.

Until the last months of his life, Duke Ellington traveled and gave concerts a lot. His performances, filled with inspired improvisations, attracted not only numerous listeners, but also received high praise from professionals.

The “New Orleans Suite” disc, published based on materials from concerts in New Orleans, again deserves a Grammy Award in the “Best Large Jazz Ensemble” category.

Three more times the musician finds himself out of competition in this category: in 1972 for the record “Toga Brava Suite”, in 1976 for “Ellington Suites”, in 1979 for “Duke Ellington At Fargo, 1940 Live”.

In 1973, doctors diagnosed him with lung cancer. In early 1974, Duke Ellington fell ill with pneumonia.

The life of an American pianist, composer, arranger and orchestra leader is presented in this article.

Duke Ellington short biography

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in Washington, USA. The father of the future pianist worked as a butler in the White House, his mother was a religious woman and was excellent at playing the piano. It was she who instilled in her son a love of music.

At the age of 7, Duke begins to take music lessons as a teacher, and at the age of 11 the boy begins to compose music on his own.

When Ellington was 15 years old, in 1914 he wrote his first composition, called “Soda Fountain Rag.” It was written in the style of ragtime. Three years later, he decides that he wants to become a professional musician. Duke studies informally with local musicians in Washington. At the age of 23, Ellington was hired to play in the famous musical quintet “The Washingtonians.” Afterwards the musician began to lead the ensemble. Under his leadership, he grew from a small ensemble of 4 people into a large real orchestra. As a group, they begin to tour first in small towns, and after the tour they turn into long, grandiose concerts. Duke's bright and unusual talent led the Washingtonians to dizzying success. They were at the peak of their popularity during the war and post-war times. But, starting in 1950, people's interest in jazz music began to fade. Because of this, musicians are slowly starting to leave the ensemble. And the leader himself, Ellington stopped his career as a musician for some time. But in the summer of 1965 he returned in triumph.