Ellington Reflections

Jan 31 2025 104 ep. 50 mins 30
Ellington Reflections Podcast artwork

Reflections on the many facets of the world of Duke Ellington, sometimes referred to as “Ellingtonia.”

  Music  Arts
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The Latin American Suite (Podcast #25-001)

Jan 31 2025 39 mins  
"The Latin American Suite," from 1968 showed that despite advancing age and the recent death of his writing partner Billy Strayhorn, there was no end in Ellington's creativity. Continue reading →

Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part III (Podcast #24-005)

Dec 28 2024 60 mins  
A look at the years Mercer Ellington led the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1974 to 1996). Continue reading →

Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part II (Podcast #24-004)

Nov 25 2024 50 mins  
Part II of Portrait of Mercer Ellington, composer, arranger, trumpeter - and drummer... Continue reading →

Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #24-003)

Apr 29 2024 48 mins  
Happy Birthday, Duke! Duke Ellington was born on this date 125 years ago. Today also marks the 7th anniversary for podcast/blog Ellington Reflections. I’m currently editing my Cootie Williams biography and securing the necessary image permissions, so it may … Continue reading →

Portrait of Mercer Ellington, Part I (Podcast #24-002)

Feb 29 2024 37 mins  
Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington, is an underrated contributor to the world of Ellingtonia. Continue reading →

Portrait of Jimmy Jones (Podcast #24-001)

Jan 31 2024 62 mins  
“Jimmy Jones is a close member of our musical family. Outside of our original version, he and Toby Hardwick were the first to do “Come Sunday.” I have had many different associations with him, the most notable being when we … Continue reading →

Portrait of Harold “Shorty” Baker (Podcast #23-011)

Dec 29 2023 54 mins  
Duke Ellington said of trumpeter Harold "Shorty" Baker that "his way of playing a melody was absolutely personal, and he had no bad notes at all." Continue reading →

Portrait of Wellman Braud (Podcast #23-010)

Dec 01 2023 45 mins  
“Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Wellman Braud were like Jelly [Roll Morton]; they’d talk as long as anyone would listen and hung around outside the Band Box. After Braud got written up in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” column, he was … Continue reading →

Side by Side and Back to Back (Podcast #23-009)

Oct 29 2023 43 mins  
The recordings heard on this podcast episode: (CD: “Duke Ellington, The Centennial Edition” RCA Victor ‎– 09026-63386-2) I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (Recorded 30 October 1928 and 10 November 1928, NYC) Arthur Whetsel, Freddie Jenkins – trumpet; Joe Nanton … Continue reading →

Portrait of Arthur Whetsel (Podcast #23-008)

Sep 29 2023 32 mins  
“As a trumpet player, [Arthur Whetsel] had a tonal personality that has never really been duplicated. Sweet, but not syrupy, nor schmaltzy, nor surrealistic, it had a superiority of extrasensory dimensions. Both as a soloist and from the point of … Continue reading →