Happy Birthday Duke Ellington

My apologies, I forgot to pay tribute to the great Duke Ellington on his birthday this week, April 29. He would have been 114.

Ellington always said his instrument was his band. Here he is in a rare performance video, playing beautiful solo piano on a tribute to his co-writer and arranger Billy Strayhorn.

Here’s a trio take on his signature tune:

What looks to be his 1948 band (with Ben Webster back in the sax chair) playing a classic Ellington medley:

And, proving his music can’t die, here’s the Harlem Jubilee Singers singing one of the showstoppers from his Second Sacred Concerts series.