American pianist, composer, and bandleader. From his Cotton Club engagement he led his own orchestra for half a century, raising jazz to the level of art music with arrangements that drew on the individuality of his players.
Recommended recordings
Take the "A" Train (Duke Ellington) (1941, Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra / Victor): The recording that became the orchestra's theme song. Composed by Billy Strayhorn, it represents the sophisticated sound of the Ellington band.