Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington has often been called a genius and a number of fine biographies will illuminates the whys and where fors. Here’s a very short list:

(1) Duke Ellington’s autobiography Music Is My Mistress; (2) Beyond Category: The Life And Genius Of Duke Ellington by John Edward Hasse; (3) The World of Duke Ellington by Stanley Dance, and (4) for children, Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra by Andrea Pinkney and Brian Pinkney.
 
 
 



Take the “A” Train by Pete Petersen and the Collection Jazz Orchestra recording Playin in the Park.
Prelude To A Kiss on The Overwhelming Joe Williams.

Day Dream by Phil Kelly on My Museum.

Isfahan on Duke Ellington’s The Far East Suite.
Main Stem – Duke on At The Hurricane 1943 or on The Golden Years of Duke Ellington.
 

Johnny Come Lately – Duke on Black Beauty or on C Jam Blues .
It Don’t Mean A Thing – Sarah Vaughan on The Ellington Songbook, vol 2 .
After All – Duke on Complete Standard Transcriptions.

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(Note: The CD titles are linked to amazon.com for your convenience.)

DIVA, an all-female big band headed by drummer Sherri Maricle, playing You Stepped Out of a Dream and If I Should Lose You – both tunes are on Something’s Coming

Pianist Lynne Arriale with her Trio

playing A Night in Tunisia

on Long Road Home

Pianist Renee Rosnes

playing With A Little Help From My Friends

on Art & Soul with her Trio in 1999

Nan Schwartz’ arrangement of

Don’t You Love Me Anymore? on Ray Charles’

Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection

Ali Ryerson, on flute, playing Joy Spring on an album titled Alto: Joe Beck & Ali Ryerson

Bassist Kristen Korb playing her own composition Mac on Where You’ll Find Me

Guitarist Emily Remler’s original composition Blues For Herb on her East to Wes recording

Natalie Cole singing to

Nan Schwartz’ arrangement of

Here’s That Rainy Day

on Still Unforgettable

Sherri Maricle, again leading of DIVA, this time playing her arrangement of one of her own compositions 80 Chestnut Street on Something’s Coming

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(Note: The CD titles are linked to amazon.com for your convenience.)

Strollin’ and Days Gone By (both on Brass is Back)

Hey! (on Brassy and Sassy)

Good Morning Irene (on Big Band Jazz (1977 vinyl LP))

Nobody Else But Me (on Velvet and Brass with Mel Torme)

Quintescence (on Boss Brass and Woods with Phil Woods)

Out of Nowhere (also on Boss Brass and Woods with Phil Woods)

The Touch of Your Lips (on Overtime)

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(Note: The CD titles are linked to amazon.com for your convenience.)

The Blues Machine / This Is The Moment (both on his CD titled This Is The Moment)

Lisette / A Minor Affair (On Basie & Beyond
 and This Is The Moment respectively.)

Katy / No Time Like the Present (On 
The Best of the Count Basie Big Band and 
 Basie & Beyond respectively.)

Shoreline Drive / Mr. Softie (on This Is The Moment and The Best of the Count Basie Big Band, respectively.)

How Sweet It Is (on Basie & Beyond)


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(Note: The CD titles are linked to amazon.com for your convenience.)

Opener/This Is Always (Opener is on America the Beautiful; This Is Always is on Waltz)

Thiers’ Tears (on Waltz)

I Remember Spring/America The Beautiful (both on America the Beautiful)

Pensativa/Old Folks (Pensativa on So Danco Samba, 1964, and Old Folks is on Waltz 1969)

The Duke (on Thesaurus 1968)

Blues Bossa (on Momento 1969)

Gilda (on Lembrancas 1989)

Morning (on Manteca!, 1966, no longer available)

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(Note: The CD titles are linked to amazon.com for your convenience.)