Duke Ellington, one of the greatest figures of jazz, died 50 years ago today. The highest form of praise he would apply to others was to call them ‘beyond category’, and Ellington’s own New York Times ...

This year marks 125 years since the birth of jazz legend Duke Ellington. The bandleader, composer and pianist died 50 years ago. In the new book “The Jazzmen,” biographer Larry Tye sets out to ...

A study in sepia It was the package that arrived, which prompted me to open an album of memories in the first place. Looking at the photograph, I recall some--not all--of the many details of the ...

Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's collaboration was not just about music—it was about storytelling through jazz. Together, they transformed the big band into a narrative instrument, where every ...

Take a stroll along Swing Street and visit the sites of iconic Central Harlem clubs where New York City’s Jazz Age was born! Walking in the footsteps of jazz greats like Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington ...

From July through June 2026, the new season will showcase works by John Coltrane, the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and more. By Derrick Bryson Taylor Essentially Ellington once again brought ...

It should not be so hard to identify the most important jazz musician in the history of the genre. It is one of five artists: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles ...