Duke Ellington: Caravan /Jazz Inside Band, Miskolc, Hungary/

#jazz #jazzmusic #dukeellington #caravan #hungary #miskolc #concert #koncert #improvisation #solo #virtuoso
/ jazzinsidemiskolc
Előadja/Performed by: The Jazz Inside Band, Miskolc, Hungary
Tagok/Members are:
István Bundzik: zongora /piano
Zoltán Péter: trombita/trumpet
Zoltán Kovács: guitar
Gyula Horváth: Bass
Gábor Kacsenyák: Drums
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 three-minute 78 rpm recording format,Ellington wrote or collaborated on more than one thousand 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 thirty-year collaboration with composer-arranger-pianist Billy Strayhorn, whom he called his writing and arranging companion.With Strayhorn,he composed multiple extended compositions, or suites, as well as many short pieces. For a few years at the beginning of Strayhorn's involvement, Ellington's orchestra featured bassist Jimmy Blanton and tenor saxophonist Ben Webster and reached a creative peak.Some years later following a low-profile period, an appearance by Ellington and his orchestra at the Newport Jazz Festival in July 1956 led to a major revival and regular world tours. Ellington recorded for most American record companies of his era, performed in and scored several films, and composed a handful of stage musicals.Although a pivotal figure in the history of jazz,in the opinion of Gunther Schuller and Barry Kernfeld, "the most significant composer of the genre",Ellington himself embraced the phrase "beyond category",considering it a liberating principle,and referring to his music as part of the more general category of American Music.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.Working as a freelance sign painter from 1917, Ellington began assembling groups to play for dances. In 1919,he met drummer Sonny Greer from New Jersey,who encouraged Ellington's ambition to become a professional musician.Ellington built his music business through his day job. When a customer asked him to make a sign for a dance or party, he would ask if they had musical entertainment; if not,Ellington would offer to play for the occasion. He also had a messenger job with the U.S.Navy and State departments, where he made a wide range of contacts.Ellington moved out of his parents' home and bought his own as he became a successful pianist. At first, he played in other ensembles, and in late 1917 formed his first group,"The Duke's Serenaders" ("Colored Syncopators",his telephone directory advertising proclaimed).He was also the group's booking agent.His first play date was at the True Reformer's Hall, where he took home 75 cents.Ellington's appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 7, 1956, returned him to wider prominence.The feature "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"comprised two tunes that had been in the band's book since 1937. Ellington, who had abruptly ended the band's scheduled set because of the late arrival of four key players, called the two tunes as the time was approaching midnight. Announcing that the two pieces would be separated by an interlude played by tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, Ellington proceeded to lead the band through the two pieces, with Gonsalves' 27-chorus marathon solo whipping the crowd into a frenzy, leading the Maestro to play way beyond the curfew time despite urgent pleas from festival organizer George Wein to bring the program to an end.Ellington played throughout the D.C. area and into Virginia for private society balls and embassy parties.The band included childhood friend Otto Hardwick, who began playing the string bass, then moved to C-melody sax and finally settled on alto saxophone; Arthur Whetsel on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Sonny Greer on drums. The band thrived, performing for both African American and white audiences, rare in the segregated society of the day.He was now performing worldwide and spent a significant part of each year on overseas tours. As a consequence,he formed new working relationships with artists from around the world, including the Swedish vocalist Alice Babs,and the South African musicians Dollar Brand and Sathima Bea Benjamin (A Morning in Paris,1963/1997).