Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, and the Wise Musician

I love this man’s music. And last February, after hearing a smoking middle school septet (yes, I wrote that correctly) do a superb version of Duke’s Black and Tan Fantasy, I think it’s safe to say Duke’s music will be a long-lasting legacy.

Here’s a vid, a short bio on the man. The gem comes around 2:40. “Every musician in the world has some limitation. There is no musician in the world who has no limitation…. But, the wise players are those who play what they can master.”

He also speaks about how and why he writes, and what circumstances help him write. Probably my favorite Duke tune is East St. Louis Toodle-oo. Something about Bubber Miley/Cootie Williams’s plunger work is just great! Here’s a version.

If you’re unfamiliar with Duke, check out the Ken Burns collection. A good selection. Here’s a 1927 recording of East St. Louis Toodle-oo with Bubber Miley on trumpet.

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