Ellington Reflections

Ellington Reflections

Follow Ellington Reflections
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

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

Steve Bowie


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 43m AVG DURATION
    • 104 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Ellington Reflections with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Ellington Reflections

    Five Books (Podcast #25-004)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 46:18


    Five Ellington related books, all published by University Press of Mississippi. Continue reading →

    Happy Birthday, Duke! (Podcast #25-003)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 48:07


    A birthday salute to Duke Ellington featuring Brian Priestley, Brian Landrus and the Planet D Nonet performing rarely covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →

    The Magazine Suite (Podcast #25-002)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 21:22


    “The Magazine Suite is an entirely new three-part composition. The band played it a few more times in 1945 and 1946 but never thereafter. It is remarkable how many Ellington compositions were allowed to sink without trace like this, suggesting that … Continue reading →

    The Latin American Suite (Podcast #25-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 39:51


    "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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 60:21


    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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 50:21


    Part II of Portrait of Mercer Ellington, composer, arranger, trumpeter - and drummer... Continue reading →

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 48:11


      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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 37:49


    Mercer Ellington, son of Duke Ellington, is an underrated contributor to the world of Ellingtonia. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Jimmy Jones (Podcast #24-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 62:10


    “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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 54:26


    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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2023 45:10


    “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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 43:47


    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)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 32:15


    “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 →

    Portrait of Norris Turney (Podcast #23-007)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 45:20


    Multi-reedman Norris Turney became the first flute soloist featured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He was with the band for 4 years, leaving in 1973. Continue reading →

    Togo Brava Suite (Podcast #23-006)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2023 40:44


    In 1967, the west African nation of Togo released a postage stamp of Duke Ellington. Ellington reciprocated by writing the four movement Togo Brava Suite in 1971, the subject of this month's episode of Ellington Reflections. Continue reading →

    Suite Thursday (Podcast #23-005)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 23:23


    “Then in 1960 we came up with Suite Thursday for the Monterey Festival that year…we tried to parallel John Steinbeck’s story, “Sweet Thursday,” which was set in Monterey’s Cannery Row.” Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress   The recordings heard … Continue reading →

    Parisian Birthday Celebration (Podcast #23-004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2023 42:32


    Celebrating the 124th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington and the 6th birthday for Ellington Reflections with a Parisian themed episode in honor of the 2023 Ellington Conference being held in the City of Lights. Continue reading →

    Ellington 2023 – Duke and the Lights (Podcast #23-003)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 6:46


    Since 1981, Ellington experts from around the world have been meeting every year in order to exchange and share their knowledge about Duke Ellington's work and life. After the US, England, Canada, Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands, La Maison du Duke welcomes for the first time in France the international symposium dedicated to one of the greatest creators of the 20th century. Continue reading →

    One More Once… (Podcast #23-002)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2023 37:22


    Just a few items I either omitted unknowingly, or due to time, or just not having access to at the time. Continue reading →

    Reminiscing In Tempo (Podcast #23-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 25:43


    Reminiscing In Tempo is one of Duke Ellington's most personal compositions. In was written in memory of his mother, Daisy Kennedy Ellington. Continue reading →

    Cootie plays Duke, Part II (Podcast #22-013)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2022 37:25


    During his 22 year sabbatical from the Duke Ellington orchestra, Cootie Williams continued to feature music from the Ellington songbook. Continue reading →

    Cootie plays Duke, Part I (Podcast #22-012)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 40:05


    During his 22 year sabbatical from the Duke Ellington orchestra, Cootie Williams continued to feature music from the Ellington songbook. Continue reading →

    The New York Choral Society performs Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts (Podcast #22-011)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 38:03


    The New York Choral Society, New York's pioneering symphonic chorus that explores unique collaboration and dynamic repertory, in partnership with The New School College of Performing Arts, presents Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, November 18 and 19 at the Tishman Auditorium at The New School. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Louie Bellson [Podcast #22-010]

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 60:51


    Drummer/Composer/Arranger Louie Bellson (1924-2009) was a musician's musician. Although he was only with the Ellington for a short period, he created a huge impact in the Ellington legacy. Continue reading →

    The Perfume Suite (Podcast #22-009)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2022 22:37


    Duke Ellington premiered "The Perfume Suite" at his third Carnegie Hall concert in December, 1944. Continue reading →

    The Deep South Suite (Podcast #22-008)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2022 36:32


    “In 1946, we might remind ourselves, the American South was a one-party apartheid society, the Klu Klux Klan still operated without police intervention and lynchings were still an accepted form of justice; in Congress, Southern senators and representatives prevented the … Continue reading →

    Portrait of Russell Procope, Part II (Podcast #22-007)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 54:03


    The second part of a survey of Russell Procope's work with the Ellington band. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Russell Procope, Part I (Podcast #22-006)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2022 53:14


    “Russell Procope…. a man of dignity and gentility, of clean and gentlemanly appearance. What is more, he became a conscientious, all-around musician, one always to be depended on.” Duke Ellington, Music is my Mistress This documentary features interviews of Russell … Continue reading →

    Creole Rhapsody (Podcast #22-005)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 28:47


    “So I went out and wrote Creole Rhapsody, and I did so much music for it that we had to cut t up and do two versions. One came out on Brunswick and the other, longer one, on Victor. Irving … Continue reading →

    Beyond the Usual Suspects, Part II (Podcast #22-004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2022 47:22


    The second part of a survey of seldom covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →

    Beyond the Usual Suspects, Part I (Podcast #22-003)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2022 46:49


    Another look at less commonly covered Ellington compositions. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Charlie Barnet, Part II (Podcast #22-002)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2022 56:38


    “Meanwhile, I was looking around for musicians who were sympathetic to my musical ideas and would fit my plans. I now wanted to incorporate Duke Ellington’s harmonic approach and tone colors with Count Basie’s rhythmic drive.” Charlie Barnet, Those Swinging … Continue reading →

    Portrait of Charlie Barnet, Part I (Podcast #22-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2022 45:50


    “Charlie Barnet has always been a wonderful friend to me. Because of his musicianship, good judgement, and good taste, he has always had people working for him whose potential was immense. Some who come to my mind are Lena Horne, … Continue reading →

    Ellingtonians play Ellington (Podcast #21-007)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 54:17


    A small sampling of Ellington songs played by his sidemen outside of the setting of the Ellington orchestra. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part III (Podcast #21-006)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 45:46


    The third episode featuring the recordings of clarinetist/saxophonist Jimmy Hamilton Continue reading →

    Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part II (Podcast #21-005)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2021 54:52


    Part two of recordings featuring Jimmy Hamilton Continue reading →

    Portrait of Jimmy Hamilton, Part I (Podcast #21-004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 55:18


    “[Jimmy Hamilton] usually manages anything musical that he sets his mind to, and there, I think, is the key to any attempt at describing him. He has the capacity to discipline himself and the diligence to study in order to … Continue reading →

    And the Trumpets Sing! (Podcast #21-003)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 53:37


    Featuring the singing trumpeters of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Continue reading →

    My Favorite (Ellington) Things, according to the iPod (Podcast #21-002)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2021 53:23


    Here's a selection of what my iPod says are my most listened-to Ellington songs. Continue reading →

    Potrait of Tyree Glenn (Podcast #21-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 41:23


    “Tyree, to me, is a very beautiful trombone player. He plays real good legit trombone, and when he applied the plunger to it his tone remained very precise and clean, so that you were tempted to like it better than … Continue reading →

    Portrait of Harold Ashby (Podcast #20-007)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 59:12


    A look at the great, underrated tenor saxophonist in Ellington's late band, Harold Ashby. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Joya Sherrill (Podcast #20-006)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2020


    Joya Sherrill was a featured vocalist with the Ellington orchestra from 1944 to 1946, but returned periodically in subsequent years. One of Ellington's best vocalists, she deserves wider recognition. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Juan Tizol (Podcast #20-005)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2020


    Valve trombonist Juan Tizol (1900-84) was an important member of the Ellington band. Besides instrumental duties, he was a composer, arranger and copyist. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Sam Woodyard (Podcast #20-004)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2020


    “Sometimes we would write something that seemed or was expected to be below bland, but when Sam added his thing to it, immediately it took on a new dimension, exotic, zesty, or maybe lecherous soul. Sam the Man, who began … Continue reading →

    Variations on a Theme Song (Podcast #20-003)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2020


    Billy Strayhorn wrote "Take the "A" Train," which became the band's theme song in 1941. We survey a number of diverse treatments from a thirty year period. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Rex Stewart, Part II (Podcast #20-002)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2020


    Rex Stewart played cornet in the Ellington and from 1934-45. Part II of a look at Stewart's work with the band and the years beyond. Continue reading →

    Portrait of Rex Stewart, Part I (Podcast #20-001)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020


    Rex Stewart played cornet in the Ellington and from 1934-45. Part I of a look at Stewart's work with the band. Continue reading →

    Beyond the “Usual Suspects” once more (Podcast #19-021)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2019


    Most Duke Ellington tribute concerts and recordings rely on just a handful of his compositions (Mood Indigo, Satin Doll, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.). The Duke Ellington Society refers  to these songs as “the usual suspects.” While they are worthy … Continue reading →

    usual suspects mood indigo in a sentimental mood
    Duke Ellington’s Wordless Melodies for the Soprano (Podcast #19-020)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2019


    Dr. Lisa M. Clark’s thesis, Synchrony of the Sublime: A Performer ‘s Guide to Duke Ellington’s Wordless Melodies for Soprano can be found here Adelaide Hall [1901-1993] “The Victor recording of Creole Love Call introduces a device which Ellington was … Continue reading →

    Beyond the “Usual Suspects” [Again] (Podcast #19-019)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019


    More covers of Ellington compositions that deserve wider exposure. Continue reading →

    “Rabbit’s Blues” – A Conversation with Johnny Hodges biographer Con Chapman (Podcast #19-018)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019


    Con Chapman discusses his new biography of Johnny Hodges. Continue reading →

    Claim Ellington Reflections

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel