Solitude

Here is a gorgeous solo piano version of "Solitude," written by Duke Ellington and performed by Duke Ellington. It is accompanied by some apt black-and-white photographs.

Take that Train!

Here is a short essay on "Take the A Train."

Rare Duke

I just found this LP of Duke Ellington playing Grieg and "Suite Thursday" at Twist and Shout in Denver. The two suites can be found on "Three Suites" by Duke.

It just struck me that Sun Ra was a big band leader, too, despite his extraterrestrial orgin.

Music in The World To Come

In my restless, eager, and perhaps exorbitant pursuance of all things Ellingtonian, I at times lament that much of Duke's early music was recorded on less than stellar equipment. The exquisite arrangements and virtuoso soling are muted, distorted, or improperly balanced--and not in stereo. Yet, the beauty speaks through it all, nonetheless--so my search continues.

Given my eschatology, I believe that the best of human culture--from every tongue, and tribe, and time--will somehow be conserved in The World to Come. I was convinced of his years ago when I read Richard Mouw's short but compelling book, When the Kings Come Marching In (now out in a second edition by Eerdmans). The chapter addressing "true beauty" in Truth Decay underscores this as well, for what it is worth.

If this is so, then, one glorious day, in the presence of the Triune God and all the redeemed (and I hope Duke is among them), we shall in some manner listen to the aesthetic apex of Duke's nonpareil orchestra form every period, whether badly recorded, well recorded, or not recorded at all. Surely the ears of heaven cannot forget such beauty--or hoard it.

Advice from Duke

In an interview, Duke Ellington said that my "first job is to listen." See James 1:19.

The Maestro