Key Duke Ellington recording: Ellington at Newport He also wrote a number of suites, extended pieces, film scores and religious works. And in twentieth century music, he may yet one day be recognized as one of the half-dozen greatest masters of our time.вЂќ вЂ“ Gunther Schuller Duke Ellington SongsД®llington tunes continue to be performed regularly by jazz musicians of all stripes, with favourites including вЂњI Got it Bad (and That AinвЂ™t Good)вЂќ, вЂњDonвЂ™t Get Around Much AnymoreвЂќ and вЂњIt DonвЂ™t Mean a Thing (if it AinвЂ™t Got That Swing)вЂќ. Music was indeed his mistress it was his total life and his commitment to it was incomparable and unalterable. вЂњEllington composed incessantly to the very last days of his life. He was known for writing features that were tailor-made for the individual soloists in his band, including the likes of saxophonists Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges and Harry Carney, and trumpeters Bubber Miley and Cat Anderson. In fact, Duke disliked having his music referred to as jazz, and felt that being described as вЂњbeyond categoryвЂќ, an expression coined by his great friend and colleague Billy Strayhorn, was one of the greatest compliments that could be paid to a musician.Д®llington came to prominence during the big band era of the 1920s and вЂ30s, leading his famous Orchestra from the piano chair from 1923 until his death in 1974.

Duke EllingtonД®dward Kennedy вЂњDukeвЂќ Ellington, is considered by many to be the most significant of all jazz composers, with some even ranking him as AmericaвЂ™s all-time greatest songwriter, regardless of genre. MortonвЂ™s recordings with his band The Red Hot Peppers represent, for many, the pinnacle of his career.ДЇrom 1926 and вЂ27, these вЂClassic ChicagoвЂ™ sessions combine the perfect mix of intricate arrangements, slick ensemble playing and great early jazz improvising. Famous Jelly Roll Morton recording: Birth of the Hot Meanwhile вЂњ The PearlsвЂќ demonstrates his ability to write highly impressive long-form pieces and rags. Hell, theyвЂ™re all Jelly Roll style.вЂќ вЂ“ Jelly Roll Morton Jelly Roll Morton songsДЄs a jazz composer his output features traditional standards вЂњ Wolverine BluesвЂќ, вЂњ Black Bottom StompвЂќ and вЂњ King Porter StompвЂќ, the latter of which became a Swing era hit for Benny Goodman and Fletcher Henderson. Kansas City style, Chicago style, New Orleans style. вЂњEveryone today is playing my stuff and I donвЂ™t even get credit. That might be a bit of a stretch вЂ“ Buddy Bolden is generally regarded as the first jazz improviser вЂ“ but the New Orleans pianist certainly made vast contributions to the early development of the style, and was probably the first person to write it down and formally arrange it. Jelly Roll Morton was famously quick to self-mythologise, and even claimed to have invented jazz. Of course now, well into the 21st Century, there are many great songwriters from all over the world, ready for you to discover! NB: Perhaps due to the fact that jazz evolved in the US, this list of jazz composers is an all-American affair. So, in approximately chronological order, hereвЂ™s our list of ten of the best jazz composers, with a recommended recording for each one.

They span a range of styles and eras, but all of these musicians have made immeasurable contributions to the lineage and history of jazz composition, and all have written tunes that continue to be performed today.

This article will look at artists who have contributed to that second category.

Tunes that were composed by jazz musicians, for musicians.

Songs that werenвЂ™t specifically written as jazz compositions, but which became standards after being interpreted by famous jazz musicians (вЂњI Got RhythmвЂќ, вЂњAutumn LeavesвЂќ and вЂњBut Not For MeвЂќ, to give a few examples).

This means that the jazz standards repertoire is split roughly into two categories: But alongside this, jazz musicians have always composed their own material to play. There is a long tradition of jazz musicians taking popular songs of their day вЂ“ familiar themes from the radio, musical theatre shows or film вЂ“ and interpreting them as their own. In this article, we look at that select group of musicians who are possibly best-known as jazz composers. Perhaps in jazz more than any other genre, there exists an enormous crossover between the most famous composers and the greatest performers.

Duke ellington compositions