I remember Duke Ellington

Explosions of great art mark periods of history that stand out for us today. For instance, the Renaissance that followed the decay of the medieval empires, and the Romantic period at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. I believe that, centuries from now, the explosion of art in 20^th Century America will be in that same category.

One of 20^th Century’s contributions to history is jazz, and one of its greatest artists, I believe, was Duke Ellington. This is a man whom I actually met.

Ellington died in 1974, but his 110^th birthday is celebrated this year with a concert by the Duke Ellington Orchestra in Madison Square Garden, New York City. It’s not surprising that this musical tradition, born before the Second World War, still lives on and still plays that music live. A performance by the Duke Ellington Orchestra is unique, wonderful and it makes you happy.

I heard the orchestra on a cold night in 1977 at Lambton College’s gym in Sarnia, Ontario. They had played in Cleveland the night before, and no one would have faulted them for not making it to Sarnia. A fierce snow storm had made some Ohio and Michigan highways impassable. Even some people in Sarnia who had bought tickets had decided not to chance going out in that weather.

Part of my job as Information Office at the college involved arrangements for “big band” concerts.

The bus full of musicians and their truck full of instruments and equipment arrived in darkness shortly before show time. Someone went out for Kentucky Fried Chicken. I remember holding the door against the blowing snow as all the KFC cartons and drinks were brought in. The musicians ate as they changed and scrambled to get set up. Mercer Ellington, Duke’s son, was the band leader.

After a day of difficult travel and hardly a bite to eat, they blew the roof off the joint. Band members were young and old. One young sax soloist danced down the steps and through the audience as he played. I was amazed at the arrangements, the solos, the energy and quality of the musicianship.

A year and a half before he passed, Duke Ellington led his orchestra at the opening of The Wheels Motor Inn, a new hotel and restaurant. I worked for The Chatham Daily News at the time. Everybody who was anybody in Chatham was there. At the legal last call for the bar, Ellington said, “wait a minute. Is the mayor here?” He was. “Is the chief of police here?” He was. “Is there a judge in the house?” There were more than one. “Then keep the bar open and we’ll keep playing. No cop is going to raid this joint tonight.”

The next day, I was assigned to photograph Ellington signing the official city guest book. It was after the appointed 4 p.m. when he came into the room. Mayor Doug Allin and others were waiting. Ellington wore satin black slippers, purple silk socks, black tuxedo pants with shiny stripe up the seam, and ruffled white formal shirt, open at the top. His hair was slicked straight back to a wave of curls over the collar. His eyes were puffy. A middle-aged blond woman guided him by the arm, and gave him his sunglasses. “I’m not used to this daylight,” he joked.

I interviewed him briefly. I asked him the obvious question about not retiring. He said it was inspiring to come to a place like Chatham and to see people loving the music.

“After we closed 3 in the morning, I went to my room and wrote some new music until about 5 a.m. I have a command performance for The Queen across the big pond coming up this summer. She likes to hear something new when we play for her.”

From the Queen of England to Joe and Jane Blow in small-town Ontario, people loved to hear Ellington’s band perform and Ellington loved performing his music. His grandson leads the big band these days in concerts around the world. If you ever get a chance to hear them live, do yourself a favour. http://www.dukeellington.com/