Duke Ellington And His Orchestra 1929-1943 DVD

Duke Ellington became a nationwide sensation because of his radio broadcasts from Cotton Club in Harlem. Shortly thereafter, Ellington made his first film appearance in the Douglas Murphy production Black And Tan. Though not actually shot in the Cotton Club, it remains the most vivid visual document we have of the special aura and mythology surrounding that landmark club.The short subject films throughout the 1930's and 1940's. Symphony In Black is particularly interesting because the music was specially written for the film. It was one of Ellington's early suites,... in this case a portrait of black America.Record Making With Duke Ellington is a fascinating explanation of how a record was recorded and duplicated in the 1930's based around an Ellington recording date. In the Hit Parade Of 1937 , we see one of Ellington's most lively and amusing shows the tuxedoed band in a playful mood, bolstered by Ivy Anderson's wonderful vocal. RKO Jamboree (Number 7) is a mini-concert of great Ellington standards. [show more]

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