Duke Ellington’s piano playing was a cornerstone of his influential career, characterized by its sophistication, creativity, and emotional depth. Ellington’s approach to the piano was as distinctive as his compositions– blending intricate jazz harmonies with a robust drive, and combining the elegance of classical music with the rhythmic vitality of jazz. His expressive touch on the ol’ ivories took complex chord voicings and transformed them into lush harmonies that spoke to your soul.
On Such Sweet Thunder Ellington took an even more novel approach to his arrangements. Inspired by a trip to the Stratford Shakespearean Festival in Ontario, Canada, Ellington took to the performances and had the idea to compose an entire album based off of Shakespeare’s work. He and his co-composer Billy Strayhorn dove headfirst into the subject matter, building a home library of Shakespearian works, and ended up writing the songs in a mere three weeks. It’s a lovely tribute to the most famous playwright of all-time, and a testament to Ellington’s massive skill set that he could even think to pull something like this off.
Standout Songs: “Such Sweet Thunder (Cleo)”, “Sonnet for Ceasar”, “The Telecasters”, “The Star-Crossed Lovers (aka Pretty Girl)”
