Synopses & Reviews
In this fascinating portrait of one of America's greatest musical legends, longtime friend and jazz historian Stanley Dance recounts the life of the incomparable Duke Ellington in Duke's own words and in the words of the artists who played along with him: longtime co-composer Billy Strayhorn, saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster, trumpeters Cootie Williams and Clark terry, drummer Sonny Greer, vocalist Alice Babs, and organist Wild Bill Davis, among many others. There are also first-hand accounts of Ellington's world tours, performances in churches and the White House, interviews and public appearances, and a complete discography and chronology. The result is a timeless chronicle of the long and extraordinary career of a music master.
Review
"Here's a book that really tells about Duke and his musicians, who have been an inspiration to us for years and years. It has been written by someone who knows him well, and that's good." Count Basie
Review
"The truest and most initmate portrait of the great Ellington that we have." Whitney Balliett
Synopsis
The ultimate in art is self-expression, not escape.-Duke Ellington In this fascinating portrait of one of America's greatest musical legends, longtime friend and jazz historian Stanley Dance recounts the life of the incomparable Duke Ellington in his own words and in the words of the artists who played along with him: longtime co-composer Billy Strayhorn, saxophonists Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster, trumpeters Cootie Williams and Clark Terry, drummer Sonny Greer, vocalist Alice Babs, and organist Wild Bill Davis, among many others. There are also first-hand accounts of Ellington's world tours, performances in churches and the White House, interviews and public appearances, and a complete discography and chronology. The result is a timeless chronicle of the long and extraordinary career of a music master.The truest and most intimate portrait of the great Ellington that we have.-Whitney Balliett
Synopsis
A fascinating portrait of one of America's greatest composer-performers in his own words and the words of the musicians he played with.
About the Author
Eminent critic and historian of jazz Stanley Dance (1910-1999) served as book editor of Jazz Times. He was a confidante of Duke Ellington's, compiling his autobiography, Music is My Mistress. Dance's other books include The World of Swing and The World of Count Basie.