Duke Ellington: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)1943 🎺

[appalachiablue]

The song was written by Duke Ellington in 1931 with lyrics by Irving Mills, now accepted as a jazz standard. 'It Don't Mean A Thing...' is probably the first to use 'swing' in the title.
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- Wiki. Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s and gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem.

A master at writing miniatures for the 3-minute 78 rpm recording format, Ellington wrote or collaborated on more than 1,000 compositions; his extensive body of work is the largest recorded personal jazz legacy, and many of his pieces have become standards. He also recorded songs written by his bandsmen, such as Juan Tizol's "Caravan", which brought a Spanish tinge to big band jazz.

At the end of the 1930s, Ellington began a nearly 30-yr collaboration with composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whom he called his writing & arranging companion. With Strayhorn, he composed multiple extended compositions, or suites, as well as many short pieces..Ellington was known for his inventive use of the orchestra, or big band, as well as for his eloquence and charisma. He was awarded a posthumous Pulitzer Prize Special Award for music in 1999...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington

[DJ Porkchop]

1. The kids still love it...

[appalachiablue]

2. TY DJ Porkchop! Fabulous drummer Clayton & I luv Tony B. Forgot

he passed away last year. Wonderful singer, painter, Democrat, WW2 vet with similar experience as my dad facing dreaded German 88 guns, crossing the Rhine, liberating Dachau.

Bennett was my fav of the singers of that gen. I saw and heard him briefly, twice, once when he came thru an art gallery where I was working, and in NY at a hotel where I heard him singing, I Left My Heart in San Fran. A very special American and artist.. ❤