In 1950, Duke Ellington composed The History of Jazz in 3 Minutes. My friend ChatGPT told me this about it.
“It is a unique composition that offers a condensed yet rich journey through various jazz styles. Composed in 1950, it is a musical collage, seamlessly blending elements from different jazz eras into a cohesive performance.
The composition begins with a clarinet introduction reminiscent of New Orleans jazz, quickly transitioning into a bebop line. It features a brief quote from Count Basie’s “One O’Clock Jump,” followed by a stride piano segment by Ellington himself. The piece continues with a saxophone ballad, a nod to Coleman Hawkins’ “Body and Soul,” and includes sections of boogie-woogie and an abstract rendition of “Basin Street Blues,” with trumpeter Ray Nance pantomiming Louis Armstrong. The performance concludes by revisiting the initial New Orleans theme.
This composition reflects Ellington’s long-standing interest in portraying the evolution of jazz. In the early 1940s, Orson Welles commissioned him to create a piece on jazz history, a project that, despite an advance payment, was never completed. However, this endeavor influenced Ellington’s subsequent works, including the 1943 premiere of “Black, Brown and Beige,” subtitled “A Tone Parallel to the History of the Negro in America.” While not a direct history of jazz, it shares thematic connections. Ellington revisited the concept of jazz history in his 1951 “Controversial Suite,” which features two sections: “Before My Time” and “Later.” Later, in 1956, he composed “A Drum Is a Woman,” explicitly referred to as a history of jazz.
The only known recording of “The History of Jazz in 3 Minutes” is a short film clip, which provides a rare glimpse into this innovative piece. Jazz scholar Lewis Porter has discussed this composition in detail, highlighting its significance in Ellington’s exploration of jazz’s evolution.”
Universal Studios used it in a 15 -minute film called Salute to Duke Ellington. The idea came from Universal’s Will Cowan, who produced and directed the film. It was recorded on 6 March 1950, filmed two days later, released on 30 August 1959.
The History Of Jazz in Three Minutes is in the middle of the film, which starts with Things Aint’ What The Used To be and Hello Little Boy (sung by Chubby Kemp). After this, a sextet with Nelson Williams, Tyree Glenn, Russell Procope, Ellington, Wendell Marshall and Sonny Greer plays She Would Not Be Moved and Kay Davis with the full orchestra sings Violet Blue.After this, Al Hibbler, with the full orchestra, was filmed with Hibbler singing You Of All People but it was not included in the film. It ends with Take The “A” Train.
For some years, it has been available on YouTube in a rather poor copy but good enough to enjoy. Here it is. If you don’t like what comes after after Salute to Duke Ellington, it is just to stop the video.
The film is also available on a commercial VHS tape entitled Swing – The Best of the Big Bands or a laser disc with the same name.
Last year (March 16), Lewis Porter published an article about the film and more on his Substack site, which I hightly recommend.
Author: Ulf Lundin