Ellington, Duke

In 1923, at the height of the Jazz Age, Ellington left Washington for New York. There he led a popular five-piece group known as the Washingtonians . This small ensemble gradually evolved into a 10-piece orchestra, for which Ellington composed songs such as “Black and Tan Fantasy” and “East St. Louis Toodleoo,” which was co-written with trumpeter Bubber Miley (1903–32). Miley's use of the plunger mute to create a “wa-wa” and “growlgrowl...