Duke Ellington: Homage

Gentleman and Swing legend: Thanks to his impeccable manners and almost aristocratic bearing, Edward Ellington fully deserved his nickname "Duke". Born in 1899, his meteoric career as a pianist and band leader began in New York's legendary Cotton Club, where he and his orchestra developed a sound all their own: the "jungle style". Before long he was celebrating triumphs in the movies and on Broadway. As a big band leader he made Swing famous throughout the world; many of his compositions became hits and are still found in the standard jazz repertoire today.