Duke Ellington: Annotated Bibliography

Jazz has shaped the world we know today. Jazz would have never been as popular without the help of the famous musicians: Jelly Roll Morton, Joe King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. These people helped spread the new genre through radio, railroads, and the records that they played. Where did this all start? The jazz age began in New Orleans where a certain King was born.

The purpose of this post is to discuss an aspect of jazz that was charged or influenced by race, gender, religion, or another social aspect. I chose to write about a Duke Ellington album, Black, Brown and Beige. Duke Ellington was known for expressing the feelings of African Americans without being angry. However, you could still feel the pain, sadness and angst, and it was always done through a filter, with a feeling of triumph at the end.

A standout amongst the most prominent supporters of the racial refinement of jazz music was African-American jazz artist Duke Ellington. He intentionally coordinated spirituals and racial influences in his music and referenced to African-American history and society in a number of his tunes. While doing this, Ellington deliberately endorsed the idea that jazz music was African-American. Duke Ellington insisted that the music he played was distinctly African-American. He expressed his conviction of this fact by

The Harlem Renaissance was a burst on African American’s expression of culture, arts, and writings throughout the 1920’s. It was in Harlem, New York, the movement allowed many African American poets, painters, musicians, authors and philosophers to express the beliefs in their people's culture. They wanted to be equal to white people so they showed that through their talents. Louis Armstrong was a key asset to the Harlem Renaissance due to his inspiring music and playing his instruments for African Americans people during this period.

Swing has also helped people come together not only to listen, but also to play. It was during the time of the civil rights movement that swing was created and popularized. While the African Americans had their freedom, they were still largely unaccepted and segregated. Even though swing did not fix the segregation part of the world, it did bring blacks and whites together in interesting ways. Swing was first introduced by black musicians. Some of them included Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, and Jimmy Lunceford. Interestingly enough, because of the popularity of the music, African Americans were able to produce music and bring it into white society for them to listen to. These African American musicians also influenced many of the white musicians as well. White jazz musicians had taken inspiration from black jazz music for many years, but because of swing, they became even more deeply devoted to integrating this music to blacks and whites. Benny Goodman was one of these white musicians.

Duke Ellington was a jazz author, conductor, and entertainer amid the Harlem Renaissance. During the developmental Cotton Club years, he explored different avenues regarding and built up the style that would rapidly bring him overall achievement. Ellington would be among the first to concentrate on melodic shape and sythesis in jazz. Ellington composed more than 2000 pieces in his lifetime.

Langston Hughes experienced everything an African American in the early 1900s could and then some. I would call his life unique. Hughes experienced the realities of not having a dollar in his pocket, and the advantages of the high life with money not being an issue. He saw both sides of American life but what made him famous was a product of the lower points in his life and the experiences given to him by a racist society.

Arguably one of the very best is Louis Armstrong. Known to be well versed in not only trumpet but also vocals and even composition. Louis Armstrong inspired many people across a wide range. He was so actively involved in everything going on around him. He was one of the only African American musicians who spoke up against political issues, he publically talked about the wrongness of school segregation (Harris). Armstrong performed an astonishing 300 concerts per year on average (Harris). Through his expertise in jazz music Armstrong set the bar for all aspiring musicians, something great to learn from but hard to live up

Frédéric François Chopin was a brilliant musician who made an incredible impact not only on the Romantic Era (19th century), which is when he composed his works but also on countless musicians to come. He was a beloved Polish composer and pianist who, during his short 39-year life, was able to rise to become a cultural icon in music history. His main focuses in music were the melody, harmony, and specific piano techniques that were prominent during the Romantic period. His skill on the piano and his heart-felt pieces forever revolutionized the use of the piano for solo, musical pieces.

Have you ever thought of the changes that had to take place for all races to gain equality? The Harlem Renaissance was the revolution in America's history when the black community was being accepted and they were getting closer to equality to all. There were many things that sparked the Harlem Renaissance such as, such as jobs, opportunities for freedom and self-expression. The Harlem Renaissance is considered a Renaissance as it involved a change in the majority of society creating a rebirth type of event. The social change in this Renaissance was caused by the whites and blacks both starting to converge and easing the racial tensions. While, many people evolved and changed for the better the big outburst of pride and cultural during the

The Harlem Renaissance had a big impact on the art world and for African Americans. While the Harlem Renaissance was built on African American traditions and culture, it was also influenced by European and White American artist. Art has always been a form of expression, and for African American it became an outlet for opposing racial inequality and to quote, “primitive/savage” stereotypes placed upon them. They believed that art could break down the negative attitudes against them, and that one day they would achieve acceptance and social equality

Who was Edward Kennedy Ellington? “Duke Ellington was the most important composer in the history of jazz as well as being a bandleader who held his large group together continuously for almost 50 years” (allmusic.com). Edward Kennedy Ellington was born in April 29, 1899, to a middle-classed neighborhood of Washington, D.C., also known as U Street. “Duke Ellington grew up in Washington, D.C. during one of the most difficult periods for African-Americans” (gwu.edu). When Ellington was 14, he received the nickname Duke. “Ellington’s childhood friends noticed that "his casual, offhand manner, his easy grace, and his dapper dress gave him the bearing of a young nobleman", and began calling him Duke” (allmusicyouwant.weebly.com). Ellington Also, he chose this nickname because of his gentleman ways. At the age of seven he began to learn

Duke Ellington is from the modern time period. He composed Jazz music and Ellington 's fame rose in the 1940s when he composed several masterworks,“Concerto for Cootie” and “Cotton Tail.” Some of his most popular songs included "It Don 't Mean a Thing if It Ain 't Got That Swing," "Sophisticated Lady,"

In the 1920s and 1930s, a large movement of art and literature took place in the city of Harlem. Many African American authors express their thoughts and ideas through anyway possible. Whether it be music, art, or literature, its impact gave the African Americans a new place in society. One composer of music was very influential to all people. His name is Duke Ellington. The impact from Duke’s musical arts is very large, and that impact still stands. He is able to construct over three thousand songs, many of which pertain to freedom, identities, reunion, and last but not least, racism. Duke’s impact on bringing people together is enormous, and ends racism in all of society.

We all know that the power of the Black community in America came from deep in their soul. Their strength and will to fight segregation , and their love can be felt in the civil rights movement. Their ability to express their minds in a non- violent way connects to the soul music that James Brown created. James Brown’s music was a mixture of R&B and gospel. Which in a way connects to what Dr. Martin Luther King was trying to do during the civil rights movement.