Our song today finds Duke penning another “train” themed song. As you listen take note at how Duke arranged the music so that you can distinctly hear the sound of the train leaving the station and then the sound of the train pulling back into the station. Suffice to say before air travel became the way to move the organization around Duke spent a significant amount of time moving around on trains and the ability to recreate that experience in music well… that’s what makes Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington.

No sampling needed, just good old imagination coupled with orchestration and arranging skills. That’s not a slight at anyone who uses sampling technology (because I use a fair amount myself) but the challenge is for you to every now and then not turn on the machine and turn on your mind and acquire the skills to be able to create a sonic landscape that mirrors reality. Imagine if all of mama’s meals were from the microwave…

A very simple exercise that I would like for you to try out while checking out or Song of the Day: Close your eyes and try to visualize all the different colors of the spectrum that this song brings about for you. Certainly the deepest Indigo Blue is an overarching theme here, but what else is suggested? What instrument or instruments suggest the different colors? How does it make you feel? Above all else if you have to listen to the song a couple of times to reach your conclusions, by all means… enjoy!

Our song of the day captures in sound a place where many find themselves not only in the physical realm, but also a place that we often check into mentally. Not always sad, but always a party of one, it can be helpful and at times hurtful but rest assured that this composition can be an empowering soundtrack.

Two legends of music, one great song a perfect soundtrack for today…

Check out this review of our Song of the Day by Dean Alger of Jazz.com

This standard for the Ellington band came, as Duke said, “as close as an arrangement gets to sounding spontaneous,” with the freely swinging style. It’s also among the Ellington tracks that served as a clear precursor to the big band swing music of the later 1930s and early ’40s. An interesting intro with piano and a deep, low-register, punched-out trombone phrase lead into lively, swinging playing of the distinctive main theme and variations, with sharp horn accents. This is mainly an ensemble piece. Crescendos effectively augment texture, feel and dynamics; and unison playing of the saxophones and clarinet add a further interesting dimension to the soundscape. A feature attraction, following a rumbling, repeated ensemble riff that nicely sets the scene for a sound contrast, is a siren song of a clarinet solo by Barney Bigard with his unique style and rich tone. But Duke Ellington the composer/arranger is the biggest star here, showing off his band’s rich ensemble playing at its finest.

Written in 1927 by Duke in tribute to Florence Mills (who was one of the most famous Black Entertainers of her day) after she died tragically at the age of 32. It is said that over 10,000 mourners paid their respects to Florence at that funeral home as well as thousands attending her funeral. Among Florence’s fans was the Prince of Wales who attended her performance in Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds eleven times.

I wanted to provide some context about Florence Mills because far too often we don’t have the historical context to understand that this art that emanates from this group of people who were once held captive on these shores has influenced the world for not just decades, not just since the dawn of the video age, but you could argue that it goes back to the end of the Victorian Age. Why is this so important? Well because when you realize that you are not necessarily a pioneer, but part of a lineage, it may be a little easier for you to claim your crown.

Florence Mills

This is truly one of the most beautiful melodies constructed by Duke.

“Take the ‘A’ Train” is probably the most well known standard from the Duke Ellington orchestra. I love how you can literally hear Mr. Ellington’s fingers playfully dance across the keys of the piano.

It is a true testament to the quality of this tune that the song feels like a breath of fresh air among today’s landscape of music. The song also makes me want to visit a place that I have never been: Harlem, NY.

Here is a bonus version of the song with the legendary Ms. Ella Fitzgerald:

“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, written by Duke Ellington and Bob Russell has been a long standing jazz jewel since 1940. Reaching #1 on the R&B charts in 1943, this standard has traveled through the iconic voices of Ella Fitzgerald, Rod Stewart, Sam Cooke, B.B. King and many more as cover tunes. When you listen to this composition, it’s hard not to imagine this song’s original title, “Never No Lament”, because it beckons lazy Sundays in the sun without a care in the world.