Billy Taylor, Duke Ellington and Willie the Lion

[pinkkizzez120]

I thank you SO much for this channel! I have a HUGE appreciation for music overall no matter what genre. However, I'm in the middle of learning how to better understand what I'm listening to. To break every little piece down and figure out what makes it special. Anyways, your channel is helping me do this. Thanks again!

[bernardoregal]

Es sencillamente la mejor manera de pasar a otra dimensión y vale la pena haber vivido para escuchala

[mrkoolkat5249]

LOVE it!

[ponderosatrail]

The DUKE played at my birthday also I was in the Marine Corps in 1969 my 21th bday came to my party on the 30th of september hadit the day before because had to be on base on my bday . He was playing on base in Cherry point ,he got me back stage and stop the band to play happy bday to me ! I will not forget him for that !!!!!!! Got a card 3 days before he passed .Thank you Duke and I know the good Lord is enjoying you music!!!!!!

[ramon5556]

Incredible coordination between the three pianists. Three Masters.

[vis4y]

THIS IS A GREAT VIDEO. WHAT TALENT

[gottohavesoul]

Great posting. Rare and monumental footage like this must be safeguarded and should be on display in any musical/cultural museum. God bless all three of these giants!!!

[WSenator1]

For the 15 who didn't like this video - WHATSAMATTAWITCHU?

[sdoruconstantin]

Three Kings !!! :)

[daveyboy731]

THREE GREAT PIANOPLAYERS WHAT A GEM

[DIZamudio]

Hey

Ive been interested in jazz music for quite a while now and i was wondering if you wouldn't mind suggesting any contemporary jazz players you like.

Chees

[davesyndrome87]

@DIZamudio If you like Duke's music, and you're looking for contemporary artists, definitely check out the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra's "Swingin' with Duke" album. The versions of C Jam Blues, Main Stem and Happy Go Lucky Local (Night Train) are off the planet. Although he's sadly no longer alive, Gene Harris played some fantastic piano right up to 2000, my favourite album being "Live at Otter Crest". Also check out the Paul Tillotson Love Trios "Lindy Hop Blues" for some MAD piano

[okdenny]

YouTube needs a speechless button.

[bigappleperfumes]

I just love this video. The late, great Dr. Billy Taylor was a great teacher! You gotta love this video!

[JazzVideoGuy]

@bigappleperfumes Yes, Billy was a remarkable fellow.

[freakyhead20]

I just love this video...3 different generation of music..different styles..why do we have stupid justin bieber and not this anymore on TV..I wish I go back in time!

[JazzVideoGuy]

@freakyhead20 Paging Sherman and Peabody and the Wayback machine

[Soulthinker2007]

I hope someone finds The Strollin 20's with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong that was shown on CBS in 1966. That appearance of Smith,Ellington,and Taylor are the Jazz Trifecta.

[Soulthinker2007]

I hope someone finds The Strollin 20's with Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong that was shown on CBS in 1966.

[falsepride]

To all of the Michael Buble,Kenny G, Michael Bolton, and John Mayer fans. This is what jazz is suppose to sound like!!!

[wiliscool]

@falsepride Hey man. Back off the John Mayer. I Give him props. He is a mostly pop player, and sometimes plays some jazz. I respect that. But Kenny g can suck it. And you cant deny it, michael buble sounds exactly like Mel Torme...coincidence? yea probably actually.

[camilocita]

Those oldies men are the coolest i've ever seen!

[SuperDukish]

I had hoped that these jazz greats where to be watched by alot more people...

[Streamline09]

Beloved ROYALTY!

[blackandtanful]

ﾌﾛｽﾄ･ｼｮｳ出演の､御大ﾃﾞｭｰｸ･エリントンのピアノ､­真の素敵なﾀｯﾁ～ﾋﾞﾘｰ･ﾃｲﾗｰが音楽担当だった､滅多に­見れぬ!(涙) #jazzm

[LenonHonorFilms]

My goodness!!!!!! Cant believe I have ever seen this before. Thanks for posting.

[MrReillac]

real musicians. real characters. and really really like watching and listening...

[LoyalSunset]

fantastic



[tuuraatnva]

Amazing!



[recordsare]

wonderful wonderful totally great, thank you...

[sirjuandabicho]

Genial, muchas gracias por compartirlo.

[marcoseguros777]

Duke Ellington es una de las figuras más influyentes de la historia de jazz. Compositor prolífico al que se deben más de dos mil canciones y pionero de las big bands y del swing, el pianista estadounidense cobró celebridad con sus actuaciones en el mítico Cotton Club de Nueva York y desarrolló desde entonces una exitosa y dilatada carrera artística.

[gottohavesoul]

May this recording last forever and be a testament to the greatness that was Duke and the Lion - with no disrespect whatsoever to Billy. A shame that US TV stations (compared to Europeans and others) never understood this and taped so little of the greatest music ever to be played.

[tzahorik]

What is going on between Willie "The Lion" Smith and Duke Ellington in this video? Notice how at the end of the video, Duke extends his hand to Smith and Smith ignores (snubs) him, only to turn around and shake Billie Taylor's hand. Duke seems to throw his hand up in frustration upon being ignored by Smith. I also get the impression that Smith is playing over Ellington in the first half of the video. Anyone know why there'd be tension between these two?

[Sactreats]

It's so cool to hear how they've figured out to use their 3 unique piano styles together as counterpoints to each other, like a 3 horn front line, only its 3 of the greatest pianists of all time.

[tommiexander]

It is soo sad to see how Black American music has changed. All of those great talents were the epitome of the greatness that Black America contributed to the music industry. Now the Black music is an embarrassment to the Black culture and to those great talents of yesterday who pioneered and paved the way for artists and musicians to follow in their steps.

[hejjagheterpal]

great minds of music

[southernbrooklyngal]

Mr. Duke has another great "BILLY" working with him..the other one of course MR. Strayhorn...love you guys RIP

[southernbrooklyngal]

If this was a battle.. who would win

[charliefreak21]

@southernbrooklyngal Willie.....he is the man....fingerbuster? No doubt. in this, he seems very aware that it become a mess and lays back. Total taste.

[southernbrooklyngal]

@charliefreak21 yes, indeed..amazing..RIP

[JalapenoJr]

Damn, mind got blown and now my brains are all over the ceiling... gotta go clean it...

[ALTERED13TH]

Wow, this makes me wonder what has happened to black American culture that has contributed so much to American music. Kanye West and other talentless morons now have the limelight.

[southernbrooklyngal]

@ALTERED13TH well said...

[MrTravnasty]

yea whoever disliked this video needs to get the fuck out

[Ken9Skinner]

history that dates before the first world war.

[delphyum]

Wonderful song!

[TheJazzydrummer]

Willie sure did cut them young boys some slack! I was just waiting for him to cut loose but he never really did. Great performance though!

[M13MusicNut]

Really talanted musicans!

RIP Billy Taylor

[thewoodenrabbit]

This is cool....nice and smooth

[77pepijn]

another great man passed!

[WayneYonke]

Interesting throwing all these guys together: WIllie the stompin' blues player, Duke and his Ego, and a young Dr. Taylor. All waiting to take solos (or cues) from Duke.

I like how it meanders along until Billy finally feels comfortable to rip a chorus (complete with unison arpeggios and that signature triplet trill). And Duke with his commanding 4 or 5 note basso resolution - right out of one of his arrangements.

Fun stuff. Thanks!

[rocsil]

Billy Taylor

The last one, passed away on 28 December 2010

RIP Billy

[rstbe]

That's just fiiiiiiine!

[isidore751]

oh my oh my thats is what you call music! 3 greats

[demm80s]

Cool baby so cool. Don't listen to jazz much but I do appreciate geniuses at work and these cats exemplified grayness. Too bad they are no longer around. God bless them all.

[LazyGuitar]

This is madness!!!!!

[chronosynclastic8]

Love that old cat with the cigar chomped in his mouth playing like crazy. People were cooler back then. 

[naturalsmind]

@chronosynclastic8 that is willie the lion smith

[Minimoog7]

I saw Duke in concert in Montevideo (Uruguay) when I was still a child. Thanks dad! I'll never ever forget it.

[BERSEK1979]

spettacolare!!!

[JinjaB123]

daaaaaamnnnn

[odinvalhalla1]

what song is this?

[AugustoYeahBaby]

@odinvalhalla1 The song is Perdido

[SteelTendons]

Thanks. That was fun. You don't see three pianos playing at once often.

[Galsporty]

OMG, people were wayyyy cooler then. This is awesome!!!

[Jigov]

@Galsporty yea cuz they were free, now people are slaved by everything around them. Slaved in their heads, which is the worst thing. Jazz = freedom, thats why its not for everybody :)

[4pedos]

Tried myself a couple of tunes at the piano while smoking a cigar, thinking perhaps that´s the secret... but my playing didn´t get any better...

Did you ever ask yourself what Holy Trinity means? Have a look to this: God split in three, that´s it!

[clarification007]

Great rare video.

[keyztos]

Hats Off to Willie ! Go Lion.... !

[M13MusicNut]

very nice!

[markp10311969]

Perfection!

[AndreaPortovenere]

Unbeliveble, 11 thumbs down!!! HAve the courage to say WHY!!! Poor world.

[sharonanony]

Willie the Lion has a Beautiful Smile. It looks like the Sun

[sitedezynz]

Man these cats were Cool!

[anautumnprayer]

God damn. The lion and His cigar are just wild.

[gbtayc]

Some much character in one room

yea

[latinquater777]

Billy is young this time, but we can recognize he is most genius in this jam !!

[josiah566]

@latinquater777 no. He was the boldest. Willie 'The Lion' Smith was old already and made his name in Stride piano. There was no need for veterans like him and Ellington to trample on Billy Taylor's youth.

[songanddanceman100]

@josiah566

To make that comment suggests that you do not understand Jazz and Jazz players.

Sorry. It's not about age or fame. It's about music being played and shared together.

[josiah566]

@songanddanceman100

I think you're reacting to my use of the word trample. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

What I meant to say that The Lion and The Duke were famous from another era, and that it is wrong to say that Billy is the "most genius in this jam" simply because he plays a different style and/or took a longer/more pronounced solo than either the Duke or The Lion.

[EMCEMITCH]

what a treat thanks for posting these masters

[abucunezzer101]

whats the song being played before Duke Ellington introduces everyone?

[fluentK]

@abucunezzer101 “I'm Beginning to See the Light,” a tune attributed to Ellington.

[fluentK]

@abucunezzer101 “I'm Beginning to See the Light,” a tune attributed to Ellington.

[fluentK]

@abucunezzer101 "I'm Beginning to See the Light," a tune attributed to Ellington.

[fluentK]

@abucunezzer101 “I'm Beginning to See the Light,” a tune attributed to Ellington.

[fluentK]

@abucunezzer101 “I'm Beginning to See the Light,” a tune attributed to Ellington.

[EDYLAFOCA1953]

SO GREAT!!!!!!! WONDERFULL!!!! to hear this 3 monsters of jazz, (but camera director was Stevie Wonder?).-

[EDYLAFOCA1953]

SO GREAT!!!!!!! WONDERFULL!!!!

[spega1]

willie the lion is lookin so g with that cigar

[MontrealCity1]

there is so much respect between them,

[TheDarkSide599]

i realised that the chord sequence for this song is similar to "i got rhythm"

[davexz]

never heard piano collab like this!

[1DIKOD]

A BIG GRIN and an even BIGGER CIGAR follow as the mater leads the fun...ooooo.....

[tanskiclaudius]

Grossartig ! wunderbar ! man hoert zu und der Tag ist gerettet ! Danke !

[Gold3nStat3KiD]

Wow! i never realized 4 minutes can feel like one. i guess im in the presence of God!

[vedelweis]

Great music! But who the hell would give this a "bad" rating ?

[josiah566]

This is comparable to the Dream Team of 92 which captured the Gold Medal for basketball after 8 blowouts.

[Streamline09]

Royalty!!!

[j90b]

billy taylor kills it at 3:56!

[BjorklundSimon]

This is a blessing to all ears!

[MegaCharlieDelta]

I am speechless... NOTHING or NO ONE comes even close to these talented and innovative masters!!!!!!!

[fjwoodard]

Great stuff!

[jwpatt1st]

Thank God for YouTube. This is iconic! Three pianos. Three masters feeding off each other, no collisions, just fantastic.

[EisforEmpty]

Oh my, Willie the Lion cracks me up--looks like he died 20 years earlier and they just put a cigar in his mouth and his body comes rises from the dead just to play this tune. This dude is OG.

[shifragri]

@EisforEmpty  My thoughts exactly! Old Skool at its finest!

[KawhackitaRag]

@EisforEmpty dude I know what you mean... in terms of looks. But Wille the Lion was one of the first "modern" pianists, and you can tell that he perfectly understands the sophisticated chords that Duke Ellington and Billy Taylor are playing. Or... maybe he doesn't, but he sure fooled me!

Just listen to his 1930s recordings... they sound at least 1930s if not 40s... and definitely not 1920s. In fact, they sound timeless because Willie The Lion never sounded like anybody else.

[pascjen]

fantastic wonderful beautiful genius  great great great

[ozzdubar]

Beautiful!

[stargate121]

Willie the Lion looks outclassed here.

[hugleberthumperdink]

@stargate121 No way man. Admittedly Ellington has class, but just look at The Lion, he's just chillin.

[stargate121]

@hugleberthumperdink He should've chilled after the performance.

[mrstep2me]

@stargate121 Not a chance. Willie is just picking his spots here. You can't have all three guys banging away at the same time.

[Ballmeyer]

omg i dont know whos playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sathanocracy]

@Ballmeyer all of them

[zbopzzz]

Thanks! I enjoyed this.

[ayanna2070]

This is ....... just .. WOW..... :-O

[megazopeda65]

Fantastic, master of master 

[viddrome]

Incredible!

[hppmike]

Amazing!  Thank you for sharing.

[PHSMustangSAXPlayer]

i sure wish what was kool then was still kool to everybody else other than the ppl commenting this vid haha... if i kud go to school with my hat cocked to the side pufing a cigar with a poker face and say "i play the sax" and girls be all over me without ppl hatin and runnin they mouths... I WOULD DO THAT basically hahahaha

[TheGiangualano]

Beautiful!!!

[yungatown]

Incredible

[abstenia07]

what is the name of this song?

[CotValkyries]

@abstenia07 Perdido

[abstenia07]

@CotValkyries thanks!!

[claytonic87]

That dude on the far left is tearing is up.

[wickstromg]

That brought tears of joy to my eyes.

Thanks for posting this truly amazing piece of jazz history.

[gabigluck]

willie the lion smith is the real deal! got that look of 'i'll do it my way, don't care what anyone else thinks!' how many musicians appear on national television in a bowler hat, smoking a cigar? what a legend :)

[azuremusique]

:D lo mejor del jazz es la improvisacion¡¡¡ q locura ste tema esta buenazo

[rhodesplayer]

who the hell would give this a thumbs down?

[JazzVideoGuy]

@rhodesplayer Beats me.

[idealjetsam]

The KKK gets Youtube too, gents.

[musicmanson]

@rhodesplayer People who want attention and don't truly understand this music.

[tanskiclaudius]

@rhodesplayer

I am sure, those 11 who gave thumbs down, liked it so much that they just missed the right button !

[MrEmanuelw]

@tanskiclaudius

or they cant figure out how to fit Justin Bieber in



[MingusDisciple]

@rhodesplayer some asshole

[EddieReyes1000]

Bonito

[Zappowx]

Beautiful music

[chronosynclastic8]

these guys are cooler than you will EVER be.

[sinmachete]

YOUR humble servant, thought he knew/has seen everything...This piano jazz trio is something remarkable, an oddity If I may rarely seen anywhere or anytine...

Thanks!

[KalyaRam]

just amazing!

[animechick2006]

lol...one second the middle man's not smoking..next second he's puffing a cigar like "what you gonna do about it?" XD

[marquez164]

Can someone tell me whats the bass line Ellington is doing in his left hand from 0:45-1:07?

[josiah566]

if only The Lion did a little bit more than just play a few chords here and there.

[dgarthsnyder]

EagleOnTheRhine said this is 69 the year I was born. I'm studying piano WOW!!!!!

[dante93196]

Bravo Duke un'altra performance degna di rilievo. Ti ascolterei dalla mattina alla sera!

[EagleOnTheRhine]

still swinging in 1969...wow

[VJSco]

ho yey

[yawotton]

This is hitting! They blended soo good.

[tjd886]

R.I.P mr ellington

[lukilike]

helge schneider

[pleyadier]

That's it !

[SalMessina1]

Fantastici

Grazie

[tuuraatnva]

Amazing!

[bboymango]

i love ellingtons music

anyone wanna tell me why duke ellington was labeld the "duke"?

[czechnoob]

Coz Allready when Edward Kennedy Ellington was a young boy, he used to wear suits, hats etc. And Coz of this fact and also coz of his nice name, Edward Kennedy Ellington, his friends called him DUke...

this is what i've read...

[jrod27puerto]

when he was growing up his parents always made themselves out to be more luxurious then others. when he hung out with his cousins they felt so lowly compared to him and made fun of him for being all high and mighty, so he said, "well, after all I am your Duke!" and hes had it ever since.

[bboymango]

@jrod27puerto ahah very good to know

the duke, wat a nickname. The Duke and Satchmo is still tied in my book of nicknames

[Bamaboompa]

Just incredible!

The main thing is it sounds like one player.

[handsoftheSinner]

Thank you for posting!

More people need to appreciate amazing legends such as these three gentlemen.

Keep em comin!

[pcoldham]

wow....taylor's little solo is really sparkling here...and duke adding in those punchy fills that noone does better.

[aknowneemus]

Amazing how no one steps on anyones toes.

They are all independent of each other but come together to make a beautiful sound.

thanks for posting.

[jamesintheplace]

really cool, i enjoyed this so much

[Borgrimder]

3:54

[whizbang47]

Right to favorites! These 3 cats are so great it hardly matters what the piece is. This is historic footage!

[codaues]

charlieo

wonderful solo by duke, always loved his luscious chords, here he gets into some heavy pecussive playing. then billy's solo flows like milk and honey. too bad no solo from the lion

[trufiend138]

so much skill in the three...this is y u dont c contemporary musicians/artists, whatever together..no skills...

[tiszavirag]

they are in a great lack of individuality, no spirit, no offense..but they just copy the great elders..too bad

anyway, glad you posted it, so much pleasure listening :)