Strayhorn, Billy

Ella Fitzgerald: Improvisations on "Take the 'A' Train", 1 of 2

This essay and the next one make up a “master class” on improvisation: Five performances by Ella Fitzgerald of Billy Strayhorn’s “Take the ‘A’ Train…

Jan 1, 2025 • Lewis Porter

Duke Ellington's Filmed "History of Jazz in 3 Minutes" (+Bonus)

(Paying Subscribers, at the bottom you will see the actual contracts that show how much each musician was paid.)

Mar 16, 2024 • Lewis Porter

Ellington-Strayhorn: World Premiere of Such Sweet Thunder!, 4 of 4; Both Pianists At Once (+Music For Paying Subscribers)

(As always, you should go to the Index to find the previous essays on this topic.

Jan 11, 2024 • Lewis Porter

Ellington-Strayhorn: World Premiere of Such Sweet Thunder!, 3; Jack Chambers' Analysis (+Bonus Audio)

As with the previous two installments of this series, today I will share with everybody some informative materials.

Nov 8, 2023 • Lewis Porter

Ellington-Strayhorn: World Premiere of Such Sweet Thunder!, 2; A Rare Duke Audio Interview (+Bonus Music Audio)

(If you’re not already a Paying Subscriber, please consider becoming one.

Nov 3, 2023 • Lewis Porter

Ellington-Strayhorn: World Premiere of Such Sweet Thunder!, 1,REVISED!; A Duke Manuscript (+Audio Bonus)

(I added NEW INFORMATION—scroll down past the Attached PDF, and read starting with the word UPDATE.)

Oct 7, 2023 • Lewis Porter

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