Duke Ellington's America

by Harvey G. Cohen

Few American artists in any medium have enjoyed the international and lasting cultural impact of Duke Ellington. From jazz standards such as “Mood Indigo” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” to his longer, more orchestral suites, to his leadership of the stellar big band he toured and performed with for decades after most big bands folded, Ellington represented a singular, pathbreaking force in music over the course of a half-century. At the same time, as one of the most prominent black public figures in history, Ellington demonstrated leadership on questions of civil rights, equality, and America’s role in the world.

With Duke Ellington’s America, Harvey G. Cohen paints a vivid picture of Ellington’s life and times, taking him from his youth in the black middle class enclave of Washington, D.C., to the heights of worldwide acclaim. Mining extensive archives, many never before available, plus new interviews with Ellington’s friends, family, band members, and business associates, Cohen illuminates his constantly evolving approach to composition, performance, and the music business—as well as issues of race, equality and religion. Ellington’s own voice, meanwhile, animates the book throughout, giving Duke Ellington’s America an intimacy and immediacy unmatched by any previous account.

By far the most thorough and nuanced portrait yet of this towering figure, Duke Ellington’s America highlights Ellington’s importance as a figure in American history as well as in American music.

 

Genres: Music, Biography, Jazz, History, Nonfiction, Race, Biography Memoir

720 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Harvey G. Cohen is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Culture Media & Creative Industries, King's College London.

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book adds incredible depth to understanding why Duke Ellington's life is so vital and important to American history. It is not an analysis of Ellington's music. Try John Edward Hasse's Beyond Category if that's what you are looking for.

Ellington led by example and used his compositions and performances to quietly inspire elements of the African American community during the civil rights movement. The analysis of the controversial "we ain't ready yet" quote that was taken out of context by a journalist (won't waste ink on writing his name) and how it led to serious misconceptions about Ellington's views on civil rights was particularly well documented.

Cohen's thorough discussions about Black, Brown, and Beige, the story behind the 1956 Newport Festival Concerts (now I know why the concert ended with mellow tones), the Sacred Concerts, and the State Department Tours are incredibly fulfilling for anyone who loves and reveres Ellington's music and career. His discussions made me pull out the cds and listen again with a renewed appreciation that was missing from my earlier experiences with them. Cohen's understanding of the incredible depth of Ellington's later works--including my personal favorite, The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse--paint a picture of a genius who never tired of learning and creating. And that is really the essence of Ellington, as Cohen so rightly understands.

Anyone who takes the time and effort to read this book will be rewarded with a greater love of Duke Ellington and what it means to be an American.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biography-as-political-economy of the only pre-Swing jazz musician to still be making innovative music in the 1970s; examining his relationship to the music industry, the civil rights movement(s), the state department, "genius" and black artistry in the US, and the politics of respectability, of which he was basically the living embodiment.

Not titling this book "Money Jungle" was a real missed opportunity.

[Italo Perazzoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What color is virtue, what color is love?"
(Duke Ellington’s America)


It's extremely difficult to describe his personality, he was not only a musician, he was an artist, a genius listening to his notes equals to a journey towards the African - American history.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29 1899 in the US's capital city Washington DC.
The Duke grew up in a middle-class family with an high cultural level and his inclination was supported by his loved mother Daisy Kennedy Ellington a pianist.

But why he was called the Duke? he will tell us in a second:

The biography "Duke Ellington's America was written by Harvey G. Cohen, he will explain not only his musical life but we will know the Duke as a culture's ambassador not only abroad.

Ellington was a fervent supporter of the civil rights, he wrote "Black, Brown and Beige" and "My People" for defeat the racism through knowledge its archenemy.

In the first part of this biography the author explains in detail the music under a business profile and a long description of a controversial article published by a number of African - American newspapers on a phrase supposedly pronounced by the Duke "ain't ready"

The context is that the black people are not ready for an integration to the white people.

It is also explain his best performance in famous nightclubs and churches around the world.

Today a considerable number of artists are political activist, fortunately it was not the case of the Duke, he was a supporter of civil rights for a simple reason all people are equal.

"There's really no distinction anymore between white music and colored music;' Ellington told a journalist in 1948. "It's sort of a hybrid thing. They have each borrowed so much from the other. (Duke Ellington’s America)

Cohen explains to us not only the important of jazz music for Ellington as an instrument to promote peace and freedom but his relationship with God, and the connection between jazz and religion, arguing that

"It's my conviction that a cathedral should be a place where creative people can express themselves, as well as where those who appreciate creative people can gather” (Duke Ellington’s America)

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are three themes explored in great detail in Duke Ellington's America: the marketing and business of Duke Ellington; Ellington's race relations; and the development of his music. Each of these subjects is discussed throughout the book, in great detail and with complete control of and reliance on varied sources of evidence. These subjects are each book-length, or multi-book length, in and of themselves, but the author does a fantastic job laying out the broader themes in early chapters and then filling in the detail over the course of Ellington's career.

Not surprisingly, the most engaging chapters focus on Duke Ellington and the development of his art. The book points the way to further studies that are needed, for instance on Ellington's suites, the development of his later style,and his films, although those are well covered in the book.The author covers each period of Ellington's musical development in great detail, and the book is a tremendous resource for information on and critical analysis of Ellington's less well-known later works. In particular, the author's discussions of the later suites and records was very helpful and informative.

The only criticism I have of the book is that the chapters on State Department tours were over lengthy. They certainly add to the picture of race relations, the civil rights movement, and what part Duke Ellington played in the era. But the chapters stray too far from the primary focus on Ellington, and would have been better edited down and dealt with as a separate monograph on the general subject of American Government and the arts in the sixties.

Overall a tremendous, intelligent, detailed, and well supported analysis of Duke Ellington's life and music.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a reference than a biography, an appreciation or even a narrative. Most useful as a bathtub of Ellingtoniana to soak in once in a while. Interested in Ellington’s game-changing barnburner at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival and the near-riot caused by Paul Gonsalves’s six minute tenor sax solo on Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue? It’s duly noted and annotated but not really described. Don’t expect to be placed at the bandstand for a re-creation or even an appreciation of the experience.

What does come through is less an appreciation of Ellington’s music than of Ellington as composer, promoter and role model. He knew early on what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it, and he just kept on doing it. The good and the bad of this book is that, at 600 pages, you too will hit every stop on that A train.

[Ken MacIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duke Steps Out

A fascinating survey of the life and career of one of America's greatest popular artists and an intensely private man, composer, bandleader, arranger, songwriter and pianist - Ellington excelled at them all. As an African American in an intensely racially segregated society, and a member of a despised minority, Ellington's story is one of how he overcame barriers to be an acclaimed artist, showered with honours, in the context of the civil rights struggle. Royalty income enabled him to support an orchestra full time as well as family members and former colleagues. But his business and personal finances were a shambles. He left no will but his legacy has continued to grow, his music played in the near half century since he died. A welcome addition to Ellington literature.

[Harriett Milnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harvey Cohen used Duke Ellington's papers, scrapbooks, and notes from the Smithsonian as well as some new interviews to put together this volume. It is quite an undertaking and is very well done. I don't know if many beyond Ellington researchers will find it interesting, but there are a few bombshells. I am credited for many interviews I did at the Yale Oral History Project.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. One of the best history book I've read, and an essential addition to the library of books about Duke.

[Lakelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duke Ellington’s America is a great book about the life, career, and death of the great Duke Ellington. It paints a vivid picture about his intentions. It had a lot of details about his life with his manager Irving Mills. Mills started hiring black artists for his label. The people thought that Mills was the last resort for black artists to make any money. When Mills found Ellington and his orchestra, he knew he had talent. From being a composer, an arranger, and a pianist, Duke Ellington did a little of everything.

Ellington led by example, inspiring people everywhere to think more about community and giving a genius point of view. His constant goal was to get people to understand that he was not just an African-American artist, but a great artist. As Ellington grew in a very middle-class town in Washington D.C., he got experience with all different cultures. Washington D.C. was the so called the best place for black people to live at that time. The author, Harvey G. Cohen paints a detailed image as to the life of Duke Ellington.

Cohen does a great job with getting interviews from people related to Ellington. Mainly close friends or relatives, or even his own orchestra. It takes Ellington’s story and puts it into many different perspectives for the audience. Cohen really tells the story of Ellington’s performance and his evolving nature of composition. Explaining even the issues of race, equality, civil rights, and religion. This book shines light on Ellington’s voice without being written by him.

I personally liked this book, mainly because of how detailed it got when it came to everything he did in his life time. The book talked about what was happening in the world around him, not just his own personal life. I got to read about Ellington and his musical talents, but I also got to read about his manager, his family, other black artists, his fans, and even his critics and enemies.

[Ronn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are more than just a casual Ellington fan, this will be of interest to you. Rather than a mere biography, this book juxtaposes Ellington's life against the events and movements of the times, along with how they affected him and how he affected them. There was a fair bit in here that I did not know before from other sources [including Duke], and a fair bit that, frankly, I'd rather not have known. But that's all part of being an icon with a complicated personality.
If are only a Casual Ellington fan, I would not really recommend this book. It is detailed and heavily footnoted, interesting throughout but can be very slow reading.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cohen is much stronger on "the life and times" than on the music. But even granting that focus, his is a sort of standard liberal cold war perspective on the ground he covers. He has mostly smoothly synthesized his (at least metaphorical) large mound index cards of notes, but without deep insight.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should have been a fascinating book, but I found reading it to be more of a slog than the topic deserves.

Ellington built a truly peerless career spanning fifty years, self-consciously establishing himself as not just a great jazz composer or African-American musician, but as a giant of American arts. He not only sustained a successful career for all those years, but managed to support a stellar orchestra long after the swing era gave way to smaller combos, and (partly because of that stellar orchestra), he continued to innovate and extend his repertoire, refusing to coast on his massively popular hits from the '40s.

Cohen's book gives a pretty good overview of the arc of this career, with a focus on Ellington's navigation of the tricky currents of art, racism, technology and the music business in America.

What the 600-page doorstop doesn't do much with is Ellington's actual music, broader currents in jazz, or his brilliant bandmates. You will get some good pointers on, say, which of Ellington's work from the 60s that you really need to hear, but there's very little analysis of what makes the music tick. If you were hoping to learn more about Bubber Miley or Jimmy Blanton, you will definitely come away disappointed.

Still, there's plenty of interest in what Cohen does cover. It's a shame the appeal of the book is marred by an overly academic writing style (Cohen goes too far out of his way to footnote insights and off-hand remarks), and a baggy, repetitive writing style that hobbles the pace of the book. Despite the topic, I didn't enjoy reading Duke Ellington's America much.

[Matt Carton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a biography of Ellington, per se. It's more of a social and cultural history centered on Ellington (if that makes sense). In other words, it places a focus on how a brilliant man, who happened to be African-American, navigated his way through a Eurocentric society. So if you are looking for information about Duke's relationship with, say, Johnny Hodges, you're not going to get it. Instead, you will see how he negotiated contracts, and ran his business, and worked with his family. That sort of thing. Perhaps of most interest is that the last half of the book (it seems) deals with the last 20 years of his. After all, the Civil Right Era was in full force, and he was touring the world for the State Department.

I have listened to a lot of Ellington in my life. Cohen's book gave me insights into records I had never gotten around to listening to, such as Masterpieces by Ellington, Blues in Orbit, and Piano in the Foreground. I do recommend this book for any fan of Ellington.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The economics of the music & entertainment industry of the 1920s through the 1950s are perfectly detailed by Cohen in this biography of Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington: a time when sheet music was the primary money maker and records weren't even played much on the radio. But you'll get about 70 pages in and wish that you had a podcast or documentary instead of a book to hear the syncopation, intentional distortion, shifting time signatures or the melodies of Ivie Anderson, his lead singer in the 1930s and 40s.

It is an excellent and detailed work, drawing heavily on accounts of the band from Ellington and band members.

[Daryl Grigsby]

great insight into the genuis, world, humanity, music and blackness of the master, Duke Ellington.

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book slow going - the writing style was a little clumsy. Very well researched, and worth the effort, though.

[Alvaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good biography of the great Duke Ellington.