Duke Ellington's America
by Harvey G. Cohen
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Book Summary Information
Author: Harvey G. CohenEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2010-05-01
ISBN: 0226112632
Number of pages: 720
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Book Reviews of Duke Ellington's America
Book Review: Excellent with a minor caveat
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is an outstanding analysis of the person Duke Ellington was. Having followed his music to a modest degree I was intrigued about the author's focus on Ellington as a person and his socio-political views. The book is extremely well-written and easy to read. I disagree with the recent NYTimes review which argued that although they liked the book, their criticism was the lack of discussion about Ellington's music. In this case, I think it's completely appropriate and helpful NOT to go into technical discussions about Ellington's music. I am not a musician and I'm not interested in the specifics about technically what Ellington did. As Ellington himself would not, if the music moves you (e.g., the listener) then that's what matters. My personal feeling is that if you want to understand/hear Ellington's music, you buy the music and draw your own conclusions.
Cohen's focus on Ellington's 1960's work was also very illuminative. I liked his analysis about how Ellington (to a fault) refused to acknowledge his age (and impending mortality).
My ONLY significant wish about this book is that Cohen should have contrasted Ellington with other seminal African-American artists who were in similar positions to Ellington (although at different points in his life). For example there is virtually no discussion about the roles of Paul Robeson, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, John Coltrane or Marian Anderson, all of whom held unique positions as African-American artists. The lack of comparison/contrast to particularly Robeson, Cole (and to a lesser degree Louis Armstrong - who Cohen does discuss a little more), creates the false impression that Ellington was truly alone as a prominent African-American artist. The sole compatriot which Cohen does draw an analogy to is Langston Hughes which is a thoughtful and insightful analysis.
Another minor point of regret is I wish Cohen had discussed Ellington's relationship with Billy Strayhorn more. Although he does discuss how Strayhorn's death affected Ellington, there is a lot more which could be discussed.
Overall if you want to understand who Duke Ellington was and his contributions to American culture (and obviously jazz) I would highly recommend this book.
Summary of Duke Ellington's America
Few American artists in any medium have enjoyed the international and lasting cultural impact of Duke Ellington. From jazz standards such as ?Mood Indigo? and ?Don?t Get Around Much Anymore,? to his longer, more orchestral suites, to his leadership of the stellar big band he toured and performed with for decades after most big bands folded, Ellington represented a singular, pathbreaking force in music over the course of a half-century. At the same time, as one of the most prominent black public figures in history, Ellington demonstrated leadership on questions of civil rights, equality, and America?s role in the world.
With Duke Ellington?s America, Harvey G. Cohen paints a vivid picture of Ellington?s life and times, taking him from his youth in the black middle class enclave of Washington, D.C., to the heights of worldwide acclaim. Mining extensive archives, many never before available, plus new interviews with Ellington?s friends, family, band members, and business associates, Cohen illuminates his constantly evolving approach to composition, performance, and the music business?as well as issues of race, equality and religion. Ellington?s own voice, meanwhile, animates the book throughout, giving Duke Ellington?s America an intimacy and immediacy unmatched by any previous account.
By far the most thorough and nuanced portrait yet of this towering figure, Duke Ellington?s America highlights Ellington?s importance as a figure in American history as well as in American music.
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