Just Coolin'-Billy Strayhorn

[gnufender]

listen at 1:08 and 1:32 :D

[SingItGrl]

Awesome piece! Thanks for shining the spotlight on Billy Strayhorn - a true musical genius!

[gamoonbat]

Billy Strayhorn did not like the version of "Lush Life" played here, as performed by Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane.

[networkingtoo]

ellington-Strayhorn ..Quincy-Temperton..

clinton-Collins  elton-Taupin...etc

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Coolin'? But cookin' as well, doesn't it? Thanks for the great introduction to Billy Strayhorn -- one of the most gifted composers ever.

PS: Feel free to check out my swing & jazz site -- for link see my profile.

Thx & Cheers,

Bruno "Brewhorn" Leicht

[needtashow]

wow -just saw the LushLife doc.Where I been? I knew the name but didn't know about B Strayhorn.-he gave us so much great music. -as for an opinion of the Duke..I still thank him for bringing Strayhorn to a GIANT audience and all the great Ellington music. Consider the times !

[blacknight39]

Duke was an ass and IMHO Strayhorn was the better composer, all the tunes that i like and play, that i thought were wrote by ellington were in fact wrote by Strayhorn, sad, just sad, i tell ya!

[cavaleer]

Duke was Duke. I'd never put their relationship on the Goodman-Henderson level. They collaborated and Strayhorn eventually left to perform on his own. Strayhorn's sound though is clear, especially with the ballads. But to say Strayhorn was a better composer is far-fetched. Duke's sound influenced Strayhorn and all the music around them, as Henderson's influenced Duke.

[cavaleer]

You need to watch the video in the "Related" column called "On the Road With Duke Ellington." It's about Duke and Stray. You can watch and decide for yourself whether Duke was an ass and where Duke's composing ended and Stray's began.

[roanoke703]

But, if it hadn't been for Duke, BIlly may never have gotten as far as he did. According to Lush Life the book, Duke often supported him. Together they made sweet music. My fave tune was Satin Doll. I also LOVE Sarah Vaughn's Take The A Train (Mercury Records) and Nancy Wilson's Lush Life .

[chdrapkin]

By all means, get the book off the shelf! It's an eye-opener.

[cassyvetas]

why are there no comments on this video? odd. i've got "lush life," the book by david hajdu, on my shelf but i haven't read it yet. i didn't know that he did not receive credit early on...i guess i'll have to read the book.

[roanoke703]

Oh yeah. The book's VERY interesting.