Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble playing “Black and Tan Fantasy” at Essentially Ellington 2009.

Garfield High School Jazz Ensemble playing “Black and Tan Fantasy” at Essentially Ellington 2009. Soloists include Ben Hamaji, Evan Shay, Willem Dekoch, Riley Mulherkar, and Carl Majeau

Ellington’s Creole Love Call / K Battle & B Marsalis

And one of the early Duke Ellington’s arrangement for his Composition:

“Creole Love Call” is a jazz standard, most associated with the Duke Ellington band.

Ellington first recorded it in 1927 and was issued a copyright for it as composer the following year. However the main melody appears earlier in the Joe “King” Oliver composition “Camp Meeting Blues” which Oliver recorded with his Creole Jazz Band in 1923. Apparently Ellington reedman Rudy Jackson had presented the melody to Ellington claiming it was his own composition.

After Ellington’s recording came out, Joe Oliver attempted to sue for payment of royalties and composer credit. The lawsuit failed due to problems with Oliver’s original paperwork resulting in Oliver not holding a valid copyright. Ellington fired Jackson over the incident, bringing in Barney Bigard as his replacement (Via WIkipedia)

Mood Indigo – The Harlem Ramblers, Mr. A. Bilk, H. Lyttelton

And and Duke Ellington interpretation as composed:

Official lies at the kitchen drinking water tap: Radioactivity goes un reported

Radiation in Drinking Water_Texas

Heat Is On: Confortable in the shade, when well camouflaged in plain view

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I noticed the two doves through the lens of my camera, so well they were camouflaged by their plumage. As I walked around the tree I took another glimpse at them: It was to hot to fly away, and they allowed my indiscretion upon their resting branches, with nothing more than a blink of an eye.

Today’s Birthday: JOHNS HOPKINS (1795)

Johns Hopkins (1795)

Hopkins, a US merchant and financier, worked with an uncle as a wholesale grocer before going into business with his brothers in 1819. As he continued to prosper, his interests diversified into banking, insurance companies, steamship lines, and railroads. In his will, he set aside $7 million—the largest philanthropic bequest in US history at the time—for the founding of a free hospital and university in Baltimore, Maryland. His will also called for the establishment of what other institution? More… Discuss

Today In History: Happy Birthday Mr. President (1962)-Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe sings “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” (1962)

In 1962, US President John F. Kennedy‘s birthday was celebrated with a lavish party at Madison Square Garden in New York City. During the event, Monroe took the stage and delivered a sultry version of “Happy Birthday,” substituting “Mr. President” for Kennedy’s name, a gesture that has served to fuel the persistent rumors that she and Kennedy had engaged in an affair. The performance was one of Monroe’s last major public appearances. What did Kennedy say about the song during the party? More… Discuss