Dukes by Agora Vou
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899–1974), one of the most influential and impressive American (jazz) composers of his time, wrote up to 2,000 pieces of music of all kinds, hundreds of which became jazz standards. He constantly reinvented himself and was always open to new musical influences—from the swing era to the sounds of Coltrane and bebop, to film music and beyond. His versatility and openness deeply inspired me. Particularly remarkable was his ability to listen and to continuously incorporate new influences.
This is something I want to take as a role model and incorporate into my own musical work—to keep reminding myself how important it is to remain open and curious.
I delved into more of Ellington’s songs and selected pieces that I wanted to reinterpret in various instrumentations. This is how the idea of recording a “concept album” gradually took shape.
Tracklist
| 1. | Day Dream | 5:22 |
| 2. | Solitude | 6:01 |
| 3. | In A Sentimental Mood | 6:25 |
| 4. | Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me | 5:05 |
| 5. | Heaven | 4:07 |
| 6. | I Got It Bad (And That Ain‘t Good) | 4:08 |
Credits
Nothing would have been possible without the willingness and contributions of wonderful musicians:
• Michael Wehmeyer – Piano/Organ
• Lucas Adrian – Grand Piano
• Chris Liedl – Saxophone
• Richard Naab – Bass
• Esteban Ruiz – Drums
• Alanna Dongowski – Harp
We met through our Berlin jazz collective halm, which has steadily evolved over the past years. Through years of playing together, not only did our musical understanding grow, but also close friendships emerged. As guest musicians, Michi Wehmeyer supported us on keys and Alanna Dongowski on harp.
The recordings took place exclusively in our rehearsal space. Esteban Ruiz took on the extensive microphone setup as well as the mixing and mastering, with my assistance.
I am both grateful and proud to have realized this project together with these amazing people. It was a great joy to work out, rehearse, and record the songs.
License
All rights reserved.
