Shows / Ellington Reflections
Ellington Reflections
Podcast reflections on the many facets of the world of Duke Ellington, sometimes referred to as “Ellingtonia.”
Episodes
Ellington ReflectionsThe Girl's Suite (Podcast #26-006)
"The Girl's Suite" is a 1961 tribute to singers Lena Horne, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn and Mahalia Jackson. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Barrie Lee Hall, Jr. (Podcast #26-005)
The versatile trumpeter Barrie Lee Hall, Jr. was one of the last musicians hired by Duke Ellington in 1973. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Sidney Bechet (Podcast #26-004)
Sidney Bechet briefly played with Ellington in the mid-1920s. They never recorded together, but Bechet played Ellington music throughout his career. Continue…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Kenny Burrell (Podcast #26-003)
A 95th Birthday salute to guitarist, educator and Ellington advocate Kenny Burrell Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
The original Far East Suite (Podcast #26-002)
The Ellington band’s State Department tour in the fall of 1963 provided the inspiration for the pieces he and Billy Strayhorn composed that was originally…
- Ellington Reflections
Beyond the Usual Suspects & Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #26-001)
Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.). The Duke…
- Ellington Reflections
Five Books (Podcast #25-004)
Five Ellington related books, all published by University Press of Mississippi. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #25-003)
A birthday salute to Duke Ellington featuring Brian Priestley, Brian Landrus and the Planet D Nonet performing rarely covered Ellington compositions. Continue…
- Ellington Reflections
The Magazine Suite (Podcast #25-002)
"The Magazine Suite is an entirely new three-part composition. The band played it a few more times in 1945 and 1946 but never thereafter. It is remarkable how…
- Ellington Reflections
The Latin American Suite (Podcast #25-001)
"The Latin American Suite," from 1968 showed that despite advancing age and the recent death of his writing partner Billy Strayhorn, there was no end in…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part III (Podcast #24-005)
A look at the years Mercer Ellington led the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1974 to 1996). Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part II (Podcast #24-004)
Part II of Portrait of Mercer Ellington, composer, arranger, trumpeter - and drummer... Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #24-003)
Happy Birthday, Duke! Duke Ellington was born on this date 125 years ago. Today also marks the 7th anniversary for podcast/blog Ellington Reflections. I’m…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part I (Podcast #24-002)
Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington, is an underrated contributor to the world of Ellingtonia. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Harold "Shorty" Baker (Podcast #23-011)
Duke Ellington said of trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker that "his way of playing a melody was absolutely personal, and he had no bad notes at all." Continue…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Wellman Braud (Podcast #23-010)
"Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Wellman Braud were like Jelly [Roll Morton]; they'd talk as long as anyone would listen and hung around outside the Band Box…
- Ellington Reflections
Side by Side and Back to Back (Podcast #23-009)
The recordings heard on this podcast episode: Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart – trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol – trombone; Barney…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Arthur Whetsel (Podcast #23-008)
"As a trumpet player, [Arthur Whetsel] had a tonal personality that has never really been duplicated. Sweet, but not syrupy, nor schmaltzy, nor surrealistic…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Norris Turney (Podcast #23-007)
Multi-reedman Norris Turney became the first flute soloist featured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was with the band for 4 years, leaving in 1973…
- Ellington Reflections
Togo Brava Suite (Podcast #23-006)
In 1967, the west African nation of Togo released a postage stamp of Duke Ellington. Ellington reciprocated by writing the four movement Togo Brava Suite in…
- Ellington Reflections
Suite Thursday (Podcast #23-0005)
"Then in 1960 we came up with Suite Thursday for the Monterey Festival that year…we tried to parallel John Steinbeck's story, "Sweet Thursday," which was set…
- Ellington Reflections
Parisian Birthday Celebration (Podcast #23-004)
Celebrating the 124th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington and the 6th birthday for Ellington Reflections with a Parisian themed episode in honor of the…
- Ellington Reflections
Ellington 2023 – Duke and the Lights (Podcast #23-003)
Since 1981, Ellington experts from around the world have been meeting every year in order to exchange and share their knowledge about Duke Ellington’s work and…
- Ellington Reflections
One More Once… (Podcast #23-002)
Just a few items I either omitted unknowingly, or due to time, or just not having access to at the time. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Reminiscing In Tempo (Podcast #23-001)
Reminiscing In Tempo is one of Duke Ellington’s most personal compositions. In was written in memory of his mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Cootie plays Duke, Part II (Podcast #22-013)
During his 22 year sabbatical from the Duke Ellington orchestra, Cootie Williams continued to feature music from the Ellington songbook. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Cootie plays Duke, Part I (Podcast #22-012)
During his 22 year sabbatical from the Duke Ellington orchestra, Cootie Williams continued to feature music from the Ellington songbook. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
The New York Choral Society performs Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts (Podcast #22-011)
The New York Choral Society, New York’s pioneering symphonic chorus that explores unique collaboration and dynamic repertory, in partnership with The New…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Louie Bellson (Podcast #22-010)
Drummer/Composer/Arranger Louie Bellson (1924-2009) was a musician's musician. Although he was only with the Ellington for a short period, he created a huge…
- Ellington Reflections
The Perfume Suite (Podcast #22-009)
Duke Ellington premiered "The Perfume Suite" at his third Carnegie Hall concert in December, 1944. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
The Deep South Suite (Podcast #22-008)
"In 1946, we might remind ourselves, the American South was a one-party apartheid society, the Klu Klux Klan still operated without police intervention and…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Russell Procope, Part II (Podcast #22-007)
The second part of a survey of Russell Procope's work with the Ellington band. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Russell Procope, Part I (Podcast #22-006)
"Russell Procope…. a man of dignity and gentility, of clean and gentlemanly appearance. What is more, he became a conscientious, all-around musician, one…
- Ellington Reflections
Creole Rhapsody (Podcast #22-005)
"So I went out and wrote Creole Rhapsody, and I did so much music for it that we had to cut t up and do two versions. One came out on Brunswick and the other…
- Ellington Reflections
Beyond the Usual Suspects, Part II (Podcast #22-004)
The second part of a survey of seldom covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Beyond the Usual Suspects, Part I (Podcast #22-003)
Another look at less commonly covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Charlie Barnet, Part II (Podcast #22-002)
"Meanwhile, I was looking around for musicians who were sympathetic to my musical ideas and would fit my plans. I now wanted to incorporate Duke Ellington's…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Charlie Barnet, Part I (Podcast #22-001)
"Charlie Barnet has always been a wonderful friend to me. Because of his musicianship, good judgement, and good taste, he has always had people working for him…
- Ellington Reflections
Ellingtonians play Ellington (Podcast #21-007)
A small sampling of Ellington songs played by his sidemen outside of the setting of the Ellington orchestra. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part III (Podcast #21-006)
The third episode featuring the recordings of clarinetist/saxophonist Jimmy Hamilton Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part II (Podcast #21-005)
Part two of recordings featuring Jimmy Hamilton Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part I (Podcast #21-004)
“[Jimmy Hamilton] usually manages anything musical that he sets his mind to, and there, I think, is the key to any attempt at describing him. He has the…
- Ellington Reflections
And the Trumpets Sing! (Podcast #21-003)
Featuring the singing trumpeters of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Continue reading →
- Ellington Reflections
My Favorite (Ellington) Things, according to the iPod (Podcast #21-002)
Here's a selection of what my iPod says are my most listened-to Ellington songs. Continue reading →
Ellington ReflectionsPotrait of Tyree Glenn (Podcast #21-001)
"Tyree, to me, is a very beautiful trombone player. He plays real good legit trombone, and when he applied the plunger to it his tone remained very precise and…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Harold Ashby (Podcast #20-007)
The recordings heard on this podcast episode: JEEP’S BLUES/OUT OF NOWHERE (CD: Recorded 1961 Ray Nance – trumpet; Harold Ashby, Paul Gonsalves – tenor sax; Sir…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Joya Sherrill (Podcast #20-006)
Joya Sherrill was a featured vocalist with the Ellington orchestra from 1944 to 1946, but returned periodically in subsequent years. One of Ellington's best…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Juan Tizol (Podcast #20-005)
Valve trombonist Juan Tizol (1900-84) was an important member of the Ellington band. Besides instrumental duties, he was a composer, arranger and copyist…
- Ellington Reflections
Portrait of Sam Woodyard (Podcast #20-004)
"Sometimes we would write something that seemed or was expected to be below bland, but when Sam added his thing to it, immediately it took on a new dimension…
- Ellington Reflections
Variations on a Theme Song (Podcast #20-003)
Billy Strayhorn wrote "Take the "A" Train," which became the band's theme song in 1941. We survey a number of diverse treatments from a thirty year period…