Every once in a long while someone comes along with such genius that the world in which that person occupies is changed forever. That was the way with America's greatest composer Duke Ellington.
Here's a great clip of his orchestra premiering a new song that was so new the band had to read it live for the concert from the manuscripts. Duke had the most beautiful alto player, Johnny Hodges, and Duke held the music up for him to read. Hodges had the most lush tone of any known sax player and could play ballads like none other.
Duke used such interesting orchestrations that were deceptively simple yet exquisite. Please enjoy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2U1MGX8SLU
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