Duke Ellington - It don't mean a thing (1943)

[FreshAir911]

OMG I'm hearing this for the first time and I really think this is the best stuff I ever heard... I've been looking for something like this for so long :D

[T08E]

What did that trombone say? I didn't quite catch it.

[wiiguru13]

That trombonist is incredible, I want to play like that.

[m1grandboy]

I Love this song!! I played it in the jazz band three years ago and I still remember how to play half of it by heart.

[showbizz10]

we go from this awesome form of music to the bullshit auto-tune fast talking "songs" that we have today

[FundaiX]

Dat swing.

[MrWhiteCoffie]

2:22

i throw my trumpet in the air sometimes, sayin ayo i just let go

[MeLauraArtOutOfLife]

I'd kill to acquire a time machine.

[TheSuperspudnik]

0:10 to 0:14 just made my day

[seb9284]

240p lol

[SpyHippo]

Thats some crazy trombonin

[thughands]

We went from this to gangster thug!

[AnyThingOutd00rs]

at 1:19 whos that sax player 2nd from right

[Ncap155]

BAH Swing boys! the original hip cats lol

[KeenSceneProductions]

I wonder if anyone else remembers this from That's So Raven..

Ah, good days.

[serenity44altosax]

@KeenSceneProductions AhhHHH I do!

[aelreynol24]

This video is a favorite on Tbilisi

[itsthat1dudeovrthere]

See the trombone Solo'ist face?

People say no puffed cheeks. I say no because greatness like this needs to come out without having to pass thru regulations. His face when he is soloing is funny and, in a way, inspiring. I dont know how to explain it, but maybe someone else can.

[lighyearandpo]

the duke was born before louie iam surpied 

[wearethecrazyanarchy]

2,017,717 viewer!!

[RafaelItzhakov]

I love how at 2:22 the trumpet player threw his trumpet in the air I loled:D

[juicyjoe97]

@1alphasam

I play trumpet and believe me it beats sticking a piece of wood in your mouth for 10 minutes and its sure helluva lot better than playing trombone

[tabitaro]

Wonderful!!

[1alphasam]

i play piano.....is the trumpet and or trombone and or saxophone a fun instrument to play?

[wiigamer024]

@1alphasam

I play trumpet, and personally, I love it! I love the strong, powerful sound of it. The main setback is, unless you practice, and keep you lips fit to play often, it can get tiring, depending on what kinda music you're playing. Nevertheless, I absolutely love the trumpet, and I'm proud to play one. :)

[KirbySTompy]

@1alphasam Play the trombone matey! YOU GET THE SLIDE!!!



[jjohnson570]

@1alphasam i play trumpet and i am 2nd chair and i am having a blast in my ms band

[JLTURBO100]

@1alphasam yes very much its so cool what u can do with them

[Psychicxfish]

@1alphasam I would say trumpet and trombone are harder than saxophone but I like to play all three!

[LeonidasBush]

@1alphasam I have played the trombone for about eight years and it can be fun. If it is jazz then it can be very fun whether you have the melody or not. It really depends on the piece of music if it is more of a concert band, as you can get really awesome parts in pieces or just have a lot of half notes in others.

[itsthat1dudeovrthere]

@1alphasam I can tell you, trombones have the most bossness and skill, a great instrument to start out on if you ask me. Just get a good trombone, because if you get a crap one then its not even worth it if you cant play in good quality.

[smoke420allthetime]

@1alphasam any instrument is fun to play :p

[serenity44altosax]

@1alphasam I play an Alto Sax, And I love it! I But every instrument can be great to play. Personally I love Sax's Because they carry an arrogance/confidence about them as well as being versatile

[Gabe2710]

how they do the yaah thing?? xD

[ISTOLEYURGURL]

Ahh back when music actually required skill and talent to make... <3 Jazz & Classical

[JakeM616]

51 people aint got that swing!

[VicyVic777]

omg...wen music was music!!!

<3

[311judy]

it`s just amazing!

by the way: look at the man who sounds the trumpet at 2:22 :)

[MusicIsMyName17]

1:17 - favorite part

[chickenfinger90]

hit the road jack! very similar rhythm!

[rocroyalswiffe]

1 y'all some clowns think y'all cool but you listen to stuff like this stay your age and 2 listen to something appropriate 4 yur age

[AboveAverageJoe96]

@rocroyalswiffe Your grammer made that comment near impossible to read. I'm still trying to figure out what you meant.......

[vkbluerose]

This song reminds me of arisocats from disney

[MsJahniah]

These folks here were creative!! I lovee it!!

[markantolovich]

how the hell does that trombonist make those Ya-Ya sounds at 1:06 and the rest of his solo?

[ProductionsofChowder]

Woah 2 million views!

[elbraymundo]

How does he do that yah-yah shit?! I MUST KNOW!

[duelmasterMAW]

@elbraymundo plunger mutes! :D

[jamietrhcp17]

@elbraymundo It's a combination of plunger and growling or humming into the trombone while blowing.

[Gri11Master]

@elbraymundo im guessing that he is using multiphonics. he uses his lips to make one sound and his voice(throat) to make the ya ya's.

[andromedarr]

@elbraymundo Easy, Just speak into the instrument. It is called growling on the flute, saxophone and clarinet, but doenst work that way in the trumpet and every other brass instrument, because then you hear the voice, like you did in the vid.

[gamezrule44]

@elbraymundo Basically by saying "yah-yah" into the trombone as he plays it. It takes practice, but can be done.

[CrazyGuyMeh]

@elbraymundo As a trombone player myself, I can safely say that I haven't the foggiest idea. I might just try everything I know some time just to see If I can get close to that sound.

[rachaelly1]

At my school I'm in band and my teacher gave us this song to play it sounds cool

[AmateurProBoss]

My jazz band did this song and apparantly we did good

with me being drummer

[SANNAFABICH]

@AmateurProBoss Look at all of us caring...

[thedasvitania]

This song is a classic. It's impossible not to like it !

[Jolie028]

GREAT!

[grumpey1313]

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D BEST SONG EVER SWING BOYS!!!

[divajam]

YOU GOTTA LOVE "DUKE"

[enescudoh]

50 people ain't got that swing.

[LillyC68]

Simply adorable...

thanks for posting!

Lilly

[SuperLaurenrachelYO]

@70sgymnastics Me too!! :)

[MrKaplan3000]

They won't let me audition for all state jazz band because i play violin, they say that they want a "traditional" band. If this isn't traditional I don't know what is. Who's on the violin here?

[kingzephyralto]

@MrKaplan3000

That's Ray Nance, who also played trumpet in the orchestra.

Ask the people running all state if they have ever heard of Joe Venuti, or Stephane Grappelli. Glad to hear you are playing jazz violin, not many people do that these days!

[danitaly]

@MrKaplan3000 Ray Nance, I guess

[bazeboiee]

@MrKaplan3000 I don't know but show them some Stephane Grappelli and tell them to buck their ideas up!

[stevetadworkz]

@MrKaplan3000 Ray Nance, I believe.

[Amiasurui2]

@MrKaplan3000 I did jazz band with a bass clarinet. And i believe it's mr. ellington.

[0live0wire0]

@MrKaplan3000 i think the violin fits pretty nice in here. It's a good addition to a big band.

[MelvinatorX]

@MrKaplan3000 Violin isnt Traditional Jazz, id say the use of violin in jazz started in the 1930's with Swing (like in this video). thats just my opinion though, i just cant think of any violins in jazz before that time. Quintette du Hot Club de France, Mississippi Shieks, Bob Wills & Texas Playboys. all started in 1930's.

[margoparker32]

@MrKaplan3000 you should have showed them this video man

[Anonymous522178]

@MrKaplan3000 this is swing, not traditional- find some new orleans dixie land bands with Violin and that'll shut them up

[EvanTempleton]

@MrKaplan3000 You've probably already gotten the answer, but it's Ray Nance, who also plays trumpet in the band. Somewhat of a double.

[VEIKUMSTIEN]

old school!

[RRRicard0]

not a real big jazz fan, but i love this old stuff =) makes me think that i actually do like jazz, or jazz elements. Also this kind of music reminds me of oldskool cartoons, where this kind of music is used in.

[seanincali1]

50 dislikes are form kkk

[nickisme317]

how could you dislike this song!

[MrAldossaryM]

i wish i was born then...

anyone agree with me?? just like

[MrAldossaryM]

best song danm i was born in the wrong time!!! all u hear these days is bieber, gaga and trash!!!

[CluckityCluck77]

it doesnt get better than this

[nigropuntdus]

I get chills at 0:55 - 1:30, Lawrence Brown is so amazing on the trombone

[chytear4]

@nigropuntdus yes

[PaulXPZ]

is that a plunger?

[babak147]

@PaulXPZ Being masterfully used to make music

[joeyc5446]

@PaulXPZ Yes the use it for muting trumpets.

[SuperFretShredder]

@PaulXPZ lol no but it might as well be one. its just shaped like one to give it that whining noise.

[Thecabbageful]

thank you swing kids for bringing me here :D

[679j]

Somebody wrote it in the comments earlier, but still a lot of people were asking about the man at 00:25's name. His name is Taft Jordan.

[HinaNanoIchigo]

I'm playing this in my school band!

[SuperBad047]

some daring trumpet work at 2:24

[scarlettpunkgirl]

im gonna dress like a flapper and dance to this song!!!

[xxLovexDiesxSlowlyxx]

It's so great, my junior jazz band (grade eight) is playing this song :D It's going to be great

[Korinasaurous]

BEAUTIFUL!

[sadhappygrrl]

Amazing!!!!!

[DimitrisMPapadakis]

America was still a nation of ideals back then Now it's become trash. Fuck I was bprn in he wrong time. All tehre is now is bieber gaga and garbage.

[cyberpolice9000]

@DimitrisMPapadakis

Yeah, it was definitely a nation of ideals back in the days of segregation...

[WiredGuitarWorld]

@DimitrisMPapadakis Ideals, like segregated clubs? Bands not being allowed to mix races? Prohibition? Sounds like a great time.

[Pwonts94]

Bass drop at 1:20 <3

[bzylizzy]

um amazing...........

[BigBluePenguin]

Swing heil!

[Glassandcandy]

1:20 made my head implode from awesomeness

[fiffi168]

1:19, is that growling?

[bretodeau]

Almost two million views. Thank you all who like jazz and good music!

[Robinbobby12]

@bretodeau This is swing ;)

[Nonjola]

@bretodeau

In those days music was something special, art, masterpieces that you will never forget.

[doctorwhofan827]

swing boys

[ajheut]

The Danvers High School Marching Band did an awesome cover of this song! Check it out!

[shaGteM]

swag

[MySpring75]

Thank you, thank you for this video. I like it. Fantastic

[612MG]

LOL THEY WAS SWAGGED OUT LOL

IT CRAZY HOW MANY PPL BIT THIS SONG

[lookjessie2020]

music now a days has gone completely down hill, this is fabulous thanks for sharing

[PianoManSam2]

anyone who can make his trombone say "yaw, yaw, yaw" and incorporate it into an interesting melody, deserves some serious credit.

[reinhartdm100]

The trombonist is Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton. He was great at producing all sorts of sounds using growls with the plunger.

[DopeTyrant]

Am I going crazy or is that trombone speaking to me o.o.

[MissJJacks]

Duke Ellington is the definition of swagger

[Darknessinpit57]

Smiling and tapping my foot to Duke's music.

[WatchVenusSpa]

Ellington

Shaw

Gershwin

Lady Day

Jazz's Mount Rushmore.

[kellygilbert00]

@WatchVenusSpa Where is Louis Armstrong?

[zeppelinman71]

@WatchVenusSpa What about Goodman?

[onceonlyaz]

@WatchVenusSpa what about dizzy gillespie

[rickysbestgirl]

this is a cool band

[spectorman09]

this also pertains to golf....

[cyberpolice9000]

Oh god, I love big band music.

[thesocietysuicide]

Does anybody know who was the trombonist that took the solo?

[Exilatus]

@thesocietysuicide It is Joe Nanton.

[MrPedamentina]

marò , che genio musicale. vai duke forever.

[ihatecheez123]

How does he talk out of his trombone like that. That sounds incredible ive never heard anything like it before

[stevej71393]

These were the good old days, when you didn't need dancing strippers to accompany the song.

[marcphilos]

@stevej71393 Well you did have the "flapper girls" of the 1920's. 

[OwrKeeng]

@stevej71393 Ironic considering the origin of this song.

[GAP120GAP]

@stevej71393 When just the music was good enough to keep everyones atention.

[freshhhhhfritz]

@stevej71393 I actually don´t mind the strippers but it´s nice if it works without them as well ;-)

[nattahnaMrotcoD]

Can't help but feel this guy doesn't have swing. :|

[ScarySpeaker1]

@nattahnaMrotcoD You sir do not even KNOW the meaning of swing

[tannerharrodguitar]

Who's the guitarist?

[Thundermonkeyms]

@tannerharrodguitar Possibly Fred Guy? I'm not sure. Ellington didn't really focus on guitar too much.

[jesseman76]

I guess it mean something to 49

[hsmhaleyj]

how can people click the dislike button on this?!? this is a classic and without Duke Ellington, jazz wouldn't be what it is today. Absolutely love this song. used this link as my visual aid for a us history project.(:

[williamcoade]

some outrageously cool kats in this vid.

[ann4ever15]

real music :)

[maniekdnj]

basik forever

[cartoonangel1]

These are real classics

[dorv22]

sounds like "hit the road jack"

[MrThisismycake]

even a one that loves dubstep will love a original i should know

[therunningpiano]

this is the way i see it. black people created jazz, they created rap, they created alot of different types of music with almost no interference from white people. so how is it racist to say jazz is black music? therefore, idis1abad's comment is not racist. no matter how colorblind you think you are, white americans and african americans will always have differences, so you don't have to get pissed off when someone says white or black music.

[willpill4hoops]

Love that crazy muting, that was awesome.

[nolaeast]

This is why I love youtube.

[phxphillip]

I went for a piano lesson at Interlochen music camp......got an ice cream cone...sat down....and do you know who sat next to me....Duke Ellington....we had a nice chat and he gave me some pointers......what an afternoon.

[MrWhiteCoffie]

@2:21

ill just throw my trumpet into the air... no biggee

[TheYetiOverlord]

Joe Nanton was one hell of a tromboner...

[YeIIowBedwetter]

I love how the Trombone solo at 1:06 sounds like a guy yelling lol

[George10154]

@YeIIowBedwetter I know right! :P :)

[XuDbsk2pm]

Duke beat Kenny G any freaking day

[j0hnnyboi1]

the trombone dude is a beast with the wammy! :D

[paulostroff99]

Awesome.TY b for posting.

[26warking]

THE BEST SOLOS ARE IN THIS VIDEO!!!!! THIS DOES MEAN A THING!!!!

[TheMrWoodLin]

Gotta love Joe Nanton :D

[TheKnortel]

46 people ain't... Ah well, that's TOO obvious.

[George10154]

I love this song ! :P:P:P:P

[Pouchy17]

who. is. the. back. up. vocalist. (Who is the one singing right next to Duke. . . ? )

[jamesbnerf18]

We play this song in jazz band

[timothyh71]

Wow who can do this even today?

[Hawkshadow49]

OMG!!! 1:19 XD

[krkalp415]

It's truly is amazing that we're able to watch this. Thank you for the upload!

[brabazon10]

who's the tenor sax player?

[umbrellashotgunman]

@brabazon10 That would be Ben Webster, one of the best jazz players of the swing era.

[Chubbyo678]

hahahaha, what if it really didn't mean a thing, if you didn't have swing... like everything in life that you've accomplished was just irrelevent because there was no swing attached....i'm over-analyzing -_-

[21piecesofBlue]

2:22 BAMF trumpet player in the background y'all

[watsoz15]

Does anyone know the name of the trumpeter\ vocalist in this?

[HannahLynnLove]

this is too great. fjklasfasf

[firestartertwistedfi]

The next person who says 'x' people ain't got that swing gets a slap.

[minigand]

I really like this song. I could have said it in a really pretentious manner, but chose not to

[donnairenephotos]

Duke Ellington is my boy.

[coldone1125]

I saw this in school awesome song

[brabazon10]

the greatest band in history..period! no band ever had that Ellington sound quite the same, even though many tried.

[RockingestHellKitten]

how could you NOT like this??

[laasurfer]

45 people ain't got that swing.

[cemertemx]

i love 40's and 50's... i love it...

[Raven7176]

Just sayin...Tom and Jerry incorporated a lot of jazz in its cartoons.

[zeo21]

0:53. Love that Trombone solo

[XcassX33199]

this was in thats so raven alot time ago