Duke's Band

In this section you will learn more about Duke Ellington and how he established his band.

Ellington launched the Duke Ellington Orchestra as the house band for the Cotton Club (the preeminent Harlem speakeasy) in 1927. The Cotton Club and its weekly radio broadcasts gave Ellington massive exposure for the next 10 years. During this time, Ellington composed some of his most recognizable works “Concerto for Cootie,” “Koko,” “Cotton Tail,” “In a Sentimental Mood” and “Jump for Joy.”

In 1932, Ellington scored a Top Ten hit with one of his best-known songs, "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing),” a song that helped give the period of Swing music (which began three years later) its name. In 1933 he traveled with his 14-piece band on their first tour of England and Europe. Ellington maintained a near-constant touring schedule for the next 40 years, broken only by temporary residencies at clubs in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris. Working sometimes 20 hours a day he was referred to as “the busiest man in show business.”

Experimenting with ternary forms, “call and response” techniques and classic symphonic devices, Ellington was able to achieve mood and nuance in his arrangements. He was sensitive to the variations in tone of his different soloists (Johnny Hodges, Bubber Miley, Joe 'Tricky Sam' Nanton, Barney Bigard, Ben Webster, Harry Carney, Sonny Greer, Otto Hardwicke and Wellman Braud), and used his knowledge of their characteristic sounds to blend individual and ensemble contribution.

These arrangements featured tonal experiments such as trumpet screams, wah-wahs, and growling saxophones, Ellington was able to retain these musicians while touring or in residence by paying each musician well, keeping the band “on tap” upwards of 52 weeks a year while traveling lavishly on two railroad cars.

Use the comment section below to respond: What was the most distinguished issue about Duke and his band? Why was Duke Ellington referred to as the busiest man in the show business?