Duke Ellington

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #130: Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue

27.08.2012 by Chris

Our song of the week is a legendary one. As a (Balboa) dancer, you love it or you hate it, there's nothing in between. I belong to the group of lovers.

What is so special about this song you may ask.

Well, read further 🙂

Diminuendo In Blue And Crescendo In Blue

Paul Gonsalves at Newport Jazz Festival 1956 — Paul Gonsalves. Photograph: Paul Hoeffler/Redferns

Duke Ellington wrote “Diminuendo In Blue” and “Crescendo In Blue” in 1937. The songs were recorded individually on opposite sides of a 78 rpm record and they were performed as separate pieces until 1951.

At the Birdland club in that year, tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves asked Duke for a solo between “Diminuendo” and “Crescendo”. Duke agreed and Gonsalves soloed for nearly 26-28 choruses (depends on the source) bringing the people to crying out and jumping on their chairs.

A few years later, Duke Ellington almost gave up his orchestra due to slackening demand in big band music, but then there was this legendary performance that rejuvenated Duke's career.

Sources: Wikipedia, Citypaper

Live at Newport Jazz Festival 1956

The story of a riot, that was almost created… 27 choruses solo… a platinum blond woman dancing… watch the clip!

And here is the full track, at least audible: 14 minutes and 14 seconds.

I really love that song! There is so much energy in there and you hear the musicians cheer Paul and pushing him even more. How I wish to have seen this performance with my own eyes.

Don't forget, it was in 1956, the same year when Elvis Presley and Rock ‘n' Roll became big! And Duke Ellington and his band brought big band music back on the radar.

DJ'ing Diminuendo And Crescendo in Blue

It's obvious, that you only can play this song at special occasions. 14+ minutes is far too long for a DJ'ed song for dancers.

Here is how DJ Kyle Smith does it. For example, he plays that song every year at the All Balboa Weekend, dedicating it to Sylvia Sykes. So, he announces the song, the length of the song and that it's totally okay to switch partners during the song. That way, you can decide yourself if you prefer dancing or having a drink.

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B0013DDOCO” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61f7UoaU7ZL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B0013CRKRA” locale=”us”]Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue (Live)[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Duke Ellington
Recorded: 1956
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B0013DDOCO” locale=”us”]Ellington At Newport 1956[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 196 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU ･ iTunes US ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B004A08JLS” locale=”de”]Amazon.de[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B0013CRKRA” locale=”us”]A'zon.com[/easyazon-link] ･ [easyazon-link asin=”B001GTIY8Y” locale=”uk”]A'zon.co.uk[/easyazon-link] ･ emusic

Are you a lover or a hater of that tune? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

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DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #104: C Jam Blues

27.02.2012 by Chris

The jazz standard C Jam Blues, originated by clarinetist Barney Bigard and arranged by Duke Ellington (see Song of the Week #56) is a popular tune among jazz musicians and there are hundreds of different recorded versions available.

This week's song is a live version by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with artistic director Winton Marsalis, an outstanding and highly reputable jazz musician.

Photo: Clay Patrick McBride

The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra is a key component of New York City's Jazz at Lincoln Center program, serving as the highly versatile house band for a wide variety of concert events.

It maintains a heavy touring schedule, devoting around six months annually to appearances around the U.S. and at prominent international venues.

The 15-piece orchestra was founded in 1988. In 1991, trumpeter Winton Marsalis was hired as artistic director.

Under his lead, they are paying particular attention to the Duke Ellington oeuvre. The group's first recording – made under David Berger's direction – was 1992's [easyazon-link asin=”B0000028UP” locale=”us”]Portraits By Ellington[/easyazon-link].

In the late 1990s, the group began to appear more frequently on record as Marsalis began using them for ambitiously expansive projects such as 1997's [easyazon-link asin=”B0000029W7″ locale=”us”]Jump Start and Jazz[/easyazon-link] and the Pulitzer Prize-winning [easyazon-link asin=”B0000029GF” locale=”us”]Blood On The Fields[/easyazon-link], and 1999's [easyazon-link asin=”B00000JT3G” locale=”us”]Sweet Release & Ghost Story[/easyazon-link] and [easyazon-link asin=”B0012GN1CK” locale=”us”]Big Train[/easyazon-link].

Also in 1999, the LJCO released another Ellington-oriented album, [easyazon-link asin=”B00138HB9G” locale=”us”]Live In Swing City – Swingin' With Duke[/easyazon-link], where our song of the week is taken from.

The orchestra is recording both as their own entity and as a backing group for Wynton Marsalis.

Source: allmusic.com

C Jam Blues (Live)

I love this version! It's happy, light and playful with many breaks, in a very comfortable tempo. The song is also great for teaching musicality classes and you can use it even for balboa beginner classes. A must-have!

[easyazon-image align=”left” asin=”B001UKKJTG” locale=”de” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LmQs61FGL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″]Title: [easyazon-link asin=”B001UKB3FU” locale=”de”]C Jam Blues (Live)[/easyazon-link]
Artist: Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
Recorded: 1999
Album: [easyazon-link asin=”B00000ICNS” locale=”de”]Live In Swing City – Swingin' With Duke[/easyazon-link]
Tempo: 144 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song at
iTunes CH/EU – iTunes US – [easyazon-link asin=”B001UKB3FU” locale=”de”]A'zon.de[/easyazon-link] – [easyazon-link asin=”B00138ANNM” locale=”us”]A'zon.com[/easyazon-link] – A'zon.co.uk – ~~eMusic~~

What is your favorite version of C Jam Blues? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #89: Rexatious

14.11.2011 by Chris

Sometimes, it's really difficult to explain in words why I like a certain song so much. Rexatious is one of them. Nevertheless, I'll try it anyway.

It must be the rhythm section! This steady ongoing beat “boom-ta-boom-ta” by the drums and then the bass, first only on 1 and 3 and after the break at ca. 0:40 on every beat, is like a heart beat going through that song.

Of course, this is always the sense of the rhythm section but here it sounds differently! I don't want forget the other instruments in this song, but this rhythm is just magic!

Rex Stewart

The star here is actually cornetist Rex Stewart (22.02.1907 – 07.09.1967). He joined Duke Ellington‘s band in 1934 and stayed for eleven years, before he left to lead his own combos. Many songs were arranged by Ellington to showcase Rex Stewart's half-valve effects, muted sounds and talkative style.

From 1947-1951 he toured Europe and Australia with Jazz at the Philharmonic, organized by Norman Granz. After that he became a farmer in New Jersey. Then he moved to Boston to work at local radio and television, and to lead part-time a band.

In 1957 and 1958, Stewart led the Fletcher Henderson reunion band and recorded with them.

Especially noteworthy is the fact, that Rex Stewart became a jazz critic and publisher of many high regarded reviews. A collection of these reviews is Jazz Masters of the 30s. The book was published after his death and is still available.

You find this song on many Duke Ellington (small group) compilations. Ellington was part of the recording, however it was recorded under the name Rex Stewart & His 52nd Street Stompers!

Title: Rexatious
Artist: Rex Stewart & His 52nd St. Stompers
Recorded: 1936
Album: Rex Stewart 1936-40
Tempo: 190 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song from
iTunes ･ iTunes EU ･ Amazon US ･ Amazon DE

How would you describe this song? Let us know in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“.

Song of the Week #81: “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Song of the Week #66: “Empty Ballroom Blues” by Duke Ellington
Song of the Week #88: “Honeysuckle Rose” by Fats Waller

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #81: It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)

19.09.2011 by Chris

This song is definitely one of the hymns of swing music: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), composed in 1931 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills.

It was recorded the first time on February 2, 1932 for Brunswick Records. Ivie Anderson sang the vocal and trombonist Joe Nanton and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges played the instrumental solos.

There are many stories about the origin of the song title, as Jeremy Wilson is writing on jazzstandards.com:

Depending on whom you believe, it was a favorite saying of James “Bubber” Miley, who played the trumpet with Ellington’s band in the 1920’s. Yet another account has Cootie Williams (Miley’s replacement) insisting it was his catch phrase. Still another has Irving Mills taking credit for using the phrase in a sentence while telling Ellington that the customers weren’t dancing to the band’s music. In actual fact, any number of people may have been using the phrase when Ellington wrote the song.

It seems, that It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) brought the word “swing” into general use. It predicted the swing era and gave the swing era its name.

The song is quite fast! It works fine for advanced Lindy Hop dancers and for Balboa dancers anyway :). The song isn't played that much for dancers, though.

Title: It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
Artist: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Recorded: February 2, 1932
Album: Duke Ellington (Ken Burns Jazz)
Tempo: 214 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop, Balboa

Click the link to buy the song (mp3/mp4a) at
iTunes — Amazon.de (CH/D/A) — Amazon.com — eMusic*

*not an eMusic member yet? Get 25 Songs with Your 7 Day FREE Trial!

Do you like this song? Do you like the series? Please leave a comment!

Every Monday, I post a new “Song of the Week“. Sign up for the weekly blog update by email and get the newest edition directly in your inbox.

Check out Swing DJ Resources for more music tips!

Song of the Week #56: “C Jam Blues” by Barney Bigard
Song of the Week #66: “Empty Ballroom Blues” by Duke Ellington
Song of the Week #80: “Shout, Sister, Shout!” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Lucky Millinder
Song of the Week #79: “Buns Blues” by Count Basie & Oscar Peterson
Song of the Week #78: “Savage Serenade” by Adrian Rollini & His Orchestra

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #66: Empty Ballroom Blues

06.06.2011 by Chris

I choose my songs of the week with no particular system. Sometimes it's an event that inspires me, sometimes it's a DJ set I played that inspires me, sometimes I'm just digging in my music library.

There is no other reason why it took me 65 songs until I'm eventually featuring the first song by one of the greatest composers ever lived, it is no one other than Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (29.04.1899 – 24.05.1974)!

Duke Ellington is actually one of my favourite swing artist and I guess the main reason is because the first swing album I bought was a Duke Ellington compilation.

Funnily the most songs were from the pre-swing era, so not suitable for Lindy Hop…

Empty Ballroom Blues is a light and easy swing tune, not very well-known. You will realise, that it's not really a blues!

Two other amazing musicians are part of the line-up: Johnny Hodges and Cootie Williams.

Enjoy this gem!

Title: Empty Ballroom Blues
Artist: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
Recorded: 22.06.1938
Tempo: 184 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Click the link to download the song from: Amazon ･ iTunes

You can find the songs of the series also on my Spotify playlist. Official hashtag of the series: #djcsotw

Do you like the “Song of the Week” series? Share your thoughts below.