Beyond Category: Duke Ellington

Beyond Category: Duke Ellington explores the music and life of one of jazz’s most important artists, pianist/composer Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. We will investigate the history of jazz using Ellington’s unique musical vision as a guide. Topics central to this course will be Ellington’s creativity as a composer, his role as a leading bandleader in the American twentieth century, and his cultural legacy. By studying the arch of Ellington’s life, we delineate the triumphs and trials of a life in jazz and learn the biographic details of one of the giants of African American music. Besides Ellington’s rich discography, we will examine Ellington’s artistry and historic life through Harvey G. Cohen’s seminal text, Duke Ellington’s America. Class will meet on the following Wednesdays at 7 pm:

February 2, 2022
February 9, 2022
February 16, 2022
February 23, 2022
March 2, 2022
March 16, 2022
March 23, 2022
March 30, 2022