The Duke Ellington Orchestra brings the music of the Duke to new generations of music listeners. The Duke Ellington Orchestra is an integral link to jazz’s early days.
Duke Ellington called his music “American Music” rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category”. He remains one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music and is widely considered as one of the twentieth century’s best known African American personalities.
Best remembered for the over 3000 songs that he composed during his lifetime that included, “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing”, Sophisticated Lady”, “Mood Indigo”, “Solitude”, “In a Mellotone” and “Satin Doll”.
