Actually, "Stray" or "sweet pea", as he was known as in some circles, wrote "Take The A Train" as he rode the A Train from Downtown N.Y. to Harlem, based on Mr. Ellingtons directions, after having arrived in N. Y. from his home city of Pittsburgh P.A.
Billy Strayhorn was the star of that song! He wrote it and played it flawlessly! It was like the piano was singing to you. I played it at least 5x's! He made that piano talk! Great job Billy Strayhorn.Composer of "Take the A Train"
Historic moment! Duke and Swee'Pea together playing one of the most famous swing era anthems. Strayhorn was a more accomplished and refined pianist than Duke was, but he could also play exactly in a Duke's style and did so on several recordings when Duke was upfront conducting the band. And nobody knew the difference!
There is a nice LP called "Tonk", in which billy and duke have some sort of piano duel after their concerts, it feel like a home concert. I had this record in the 80/90s, then left to go to europe and didnt take it with me (and 200 others..) remember it to be very nice, Billy had chops!! Health and wisdom to all, Erik the Netherlands
If you get the chance, watch the series History Detectives, Season 8 Episode 5 [final story], for an article on this song and some good background information on the relationship between Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, plus the impact of the song on the Ellington band.
Great to hear the composer play his composition. A couple of oddities: The cutaway bass (maybe for travel?) and is it Paul Gonsalves totally asleep at 1:35.
The dude had some form of bug that caused a sleeping disorder. He gained it during his service in the pacific theater during ww2. There is a story about a journalist asking Duke: "Aren't you ashamed over Paul sleeping?". The Duke answered: "I am proud to be able to play with true hero". Duke Ellington was a pretty great guy.
My favorite version. I try to find musical compositions played by the original composer as he had arranged it. Like Steve Allen and any current composer. Way different listening experience.
Billy Strayhorn was a great man and every gay person should be proud of him. Billy wrote "take the A Train after Duke gave him the direction to his Harlem Apartment. When Billy arrived he played it in Duke Harlem Apt and history was written
Julio Cortazar en Rayuela las llamaba sinfonías de 3 min. ya que después con los discos long play cualquiera hacia un tema de 6 min y demostraba su sapiencia.
paul gonsalves the tenor player asleep had a bad drug problem and he died at 53 a few days before Duke himself passed away in 1974. Duke really loved paul and his playing so he just put up with it. Paul was one of the great tenor artists of all time, his solo at the newport jazz fest of 56 made history. diminuendo and crescendo in blue. it's a shame to see him in that condition.
You must take the "A" train To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem If you miss the "A" train You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem Hurry, get on, now it's coming Listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard Get on the "A" train Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem You, you must take the "A" train To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem You must take the "A" train
Jim Stark. It’s was very well known Paul Gonsalves had a heroin and drinking habit particularly during those days and this was not the first time. Cootie Williams had the same issue. Duke was kind of loose about it with the Orchestra. The video and their history speaks for itself. I suggest you look at other videos of Ellington and you’ll see what I mean
This is good, but I don't think it's what I'm looking for; I'm trying to figure out the name of the Song that plays at 1:21 in this Video: What the Fuck?.
Seven years later I am obsessed with the same question: what song is he quoting. It's familiar; it's maddening. I'm 73. Will it come to me before I die?
Duke's band (or at least the horn section) always looked (and played) like they could give a sh**, esp. in the later years. I mean aside from Paul Gonsalves nodding out, the other guy is going through his wallet, someone else has their jacket open and is stretching...totally disrespectful to the music and the audience.
Billy Strayhorn was openly gay and that was unsettling for many jazz artists at that time. I wonder if that's why they showed very little interest while Billy Strayhorn played piano. They obviously liked his musical brilliance but certainly had very little respect for him as a man. I don't know. Just saying.............
Tave, untrue. I knew and associated with this band at the time this video was made. Billy had many personal friends in the band: Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton especially. They would often socialize outside of a musical context. Jazz musicians were basically bohemian and were by and large more tolerant than most people of homosexuality, drugs and all sorts of "nonconformist" behavior. As for the slipshod discipline on the bandstand, well I suppose that's what comes from performing about 350 nights a year; being on the road constantly. Also, the Duke was no disciplinarian. He didn't hold a tight ship like Benny Goodman or even James Brown.
Well said. Good to get some insight from someone who associated with the band. Remarkable. I was thinking similar, especially about the bandstand. You can see that they'd been workin' it hard across venues. If the Duke had a problem, it would have been sorted. Also, see how on point they are when it comes time to play. I guess it must have been a case of "When its time to play, play. What you do outside that is your thing". Didn't detract from the excellency of the sound.
WOW!!!!
Genius times two. The Duke and Billy.
Not forgetting a host of superb musicians.
Thank you.
Strayhorn wrote this song overnight as a gift to Ellington... The guy was like Mozart. What an amazing genius.
More like an audition than a gift, really.
You absolutely right!
Actually, "Stray" or "sweet pea", as he was known as in some circles, wrote "Take The A Train" as he rode the A Train from Downtown N.Y. to Harlem, based on Mr. Ellingtons directions, after having arrived in N. Y. from his home city of Pittsburgh P.A.
Yes, read the excellent bio, “Lush Life”.
That's what my grandpa, who was his youngest brother told me.@@jaysteve8048
A thumbs up isn't enough to say how much I LOVE this clip. Thank you!
The sax player catching a nap during Billy’s solo!
That saxophonist suffered from narcolepsy, sadly.
How beautiful sent chills all through my body. Can’t beat excellence!
Billy Strayhorn was the star of that song! He wrote it and played it flawlessly! It was like the piano was singing to you. I played it at least 5x's! He made that piano talk! Great job Billy Strayhorn.Composer of "Take the A Train"
I've played it on repeat about 5x's too! Doesnt get old. At. All. The man's timing is impeccable! but then its Billy Strayhorn.
As sublime a 3 minutes and 12 seconds of American jazz as you will find!
Classics, Intelligence, Beauty, Supreme Talent, Everlasting= Billy Strayhorn
He's not already sat down, he's already swinging !
Classic played by genius level musicians
My Mom’s favorite swing as a teenager Bobby socks hoop skirts,and saddle shoes dancing. My favorite too even though way before my time.
Historic moment! Duke and Swee'Pea together playing one of the most famous swing era anthems.
Strayhorn was a more accomplished and refined pianist than Duke was, but he could also play exactly in a Duke's style and did so on several recordings when Duke was upfront conducting the band. And nobody knew the difference!
That was my train -- to Brooklyn!!
FABULOUS! You've made my day. Thank you.
🙏🏾🙏🏾
HI! THAT SOUND SO SO SO SO GOOD I LOVE IT THANK YOU FOR THAT SOUND JAZZ AND THANK YOU (DUKE)(ELLINGTON) AND (BILLY)(STRAYHORN).
Great how Duke stands between the sleeping Gonsalves and the camera and who could tell whether he's playing?
Genius. End of.
Thanks for posting this gem!!! Love it!! 😉
very very well.......................................................................
Strayhorn was a genius as a composer and he was not bad as an arranger or on the piano.
i love this song
There is a nice LP called "Tonk", in which billy and duke have some sort of piano duel after their concerts, it feel like a home concert. I had this record in the 80/90s, then left to go to europe and didnt take it with me (and 200 others..) remember it to be very nice, Billy had chops!! Health and wisdom to all, Erik the Netherlands
If you get the chance, watch the series History Detectives, Season 8 Episode 5 [final story], for an article on this song and some good background information on the relationship between Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn, plus the impact of the song on the Ellington band.
Fantastic listening
Way to go Billy!!
that'd be a treat to he at that show. billy!
Beautiful
Love it!
Great to hear the composer play his composition. A couple of oddities: The cutaway bass (maybe for travel?) and is it Paul Gonsalves totally asleep at 1:35.
😂😂he was😴
The dude had some form of bug that caused a sleeping disorder.
He gained it during his service in the pacific theater during ww2.
There is a story about a journalist asking Duke: "Aren't you ashamed over Paul sleeping?".
The Duke answered: "I am proud to be able to play with true hero".
Duke Ellington was a pretty great guy.
esta música me provoca cerrar los ojos y moverme. ♥
lovely indeed
Tra i miei preferiti
ビリーストレイホーンを生で初めて見た！
Solid Gold!
My favorite version. I try to find musical compositions played by the original composer as he had arranged it. Like Steve Allen and any current composer. Way different listening experience.
Best ever
Anyone know the when where of this beauty? Strayhorn plays like liquid gold.
🌾💙🌱😃
Billy Strayhorn was a great man and every gay person should be proud of him. Billy wrote "take the A Train after Duke gave him the direction to his Harlem Apartment. When Billy arrived he played it in Duke Harlem Apt and history was written
HI! PLAY IT AND PLAY IT YE'S THANK YOU (DUKE)(ELLINGTON ).(BILLY)(STRAYHORN).
Class, pure class. Someone needed to nudge Paul Gonsalves, the dude nodded off to sleep. What's up with that?! Guess you cop a wink whenever you can.
Narcolepsy
He loved his drugs
Gonsalves liked to keep a pint or 2 close by and would ' take a sip' now and then. Guess it made him 'sleepy ' 🤤😔
Greatness, and comical with the sleeping saxist!
#OdedFriedGaon #OdedMusic #Audioded
Style !
That sax player was nodding off big time.
Billy was a Sage.
Julio Cortazar en Rayuela las llamaba sinfonías de 3 min. ya que después con los discos long play cualquiera hacia un tema de 6 min y demostraba su sapiencia.
💯
Who cares if they were "disrespectful to the artform?" They still were genius! They had it like that.
Why is the horn player sleepin at 1:29? He's going to miss the A train lol
He's got the nods
He's passed out drunk lmao
He had narcolepsy, dont listen to the B.S comments that say he was drugged out
@@milest3560 Thank you
paul gonsalves the tenor player asleep had a bad drug problem and he died at 53 a few days before Duke himself passed away in 1974. Duke really loved paul and his playing so he just put up with it. Paul was one of the great tenor artists of all time, his solo at the newport jazz fest of 56 made history. diminuendo and crescendo in blue. it's a shame to see him in that condition.
If you take away American popular culture inspired by African American culture there’s not much left. Just sayn
Only thing that’s left is the audience
You must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem
If you miss the "A" train
You'll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem
Hurry, get on, now it's coming
Listen to those rails a-thrumming all aboard
Get on the "A" train
Soon you will be on Sugar Hill in Harlem
You, you must take the "A" train
To go to Sugar Hill, way up in Harlem
You must take the "A" train
😂🤣😂🤣😂♥️♥️♥️
Classic cool
Paul Gonsalves sleeping!Rsrsrsrsrsrs!!!
Eccheballe sta pubbblicità... anche nel jazz di 100 anni fa
que foda
de onde vem este clipe?..do que ano?
😂🤪😎❤️!
How this type of jazz is called ??
it sucks how almost all of the brilliant guys are dead now
Chick corea is around, so is ron Carter, herbie... And there are lots of great musicians today too
Well, the brilliant guys from 70 years ago, yes.
Anyone knows who the bass player is?
who's playing the upright bass in this one?
Benjamin Hardwick
I think it's too late to reply.... but his name is "John Lamb" and he'd been in Duke's band 1964-67
Paul Gonsalves in a drunken sleep
Paul Gonsalves had narcolepsy, jerks.
Drugs
CVS
Never heard that before.
I dont get why the band isn't clapping for him. Why no standing ovation?
Paul Gonçalves was drunk and nodding out on his tune. Too funny. A lotta Monk and Erroll Garner in Strayhorn's playing
Jim Stark. It’s was very well known Paul Gonsalves had a heroin and drinking habit particularly during those days and this was not the first time. Cootie Williams had the same issue. Duke was kind of loose about it with the Orchestra. The video and their history speaks for itself. I suggest you look at other videos of Ellington and you’ll see what I mean
he also suffered apparently from narcolepsy, I guess we'll never know, also doesnt matter
Looks like Paul had a rough night.
This is good, but I don't think it's what I'm looking for; I'm trying to figure out the name of the Song that plays at 1:21 in this Video: What the Fuck?.
DeanMetalAngel666 Take the A train....
Seven years later I am obsessed with the same question: what song is he quoting. It's familiar; it's maddening. I'm 73. Will it come to me before I die?
Duke's band (or at least the horn section) always looked (and played) like they could give a sh**, esp. in the later years. I mean aside from Paul Gonsalves nodding out, the other guy is going through his wallet, someone else has their jacket open and is stretching...totally disrespectful to the music and the audience.
Billy Strayhorn was openly gay and that was unsettling for many jazz artists at that time. I wonder if that's why they showed very little interest while Billy Strayhorn played piano. They obviously liked his musical brilliance but certainly had very little respect for him as a man. I don't know. Just saying.............
Tave, untrue. I knew and associated with this band at the time this video was made. Billy had many personal friends in the band: Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton especially. They would often socialize outside of a musical context. Jazz musicians were basically bohemian and were by and large more tolerant than most people of homosexuality, drugs and all sorts of "nonconformist" behavior. As for the slipshod discipline on the bandstand, well I suppose that's what comes from performing about 350 nights a year; being on the road constantly. Also, the Duke was no disciplinarian. He didn't hold a tight ship like Benny Goodman or even James Brown.
Well said. Good to get some insight from someone who associated with the band. Remarkable.
I was thinking similar, especially about the bandstand. You can see that they'd been workin' it hard across venues. If the Duke had a problem, it would have been sorted. Also, see how on point they are when it comes time to play. I guess it must have been a case of "When its time to play, play. What you do outside that is your thing". Didn't detract from the excellency of the sound.
The thing is though that when they played they were the greatest anywhere.
Gîtes the feeling the band felt it boring...
too much piano, needs more sax
The point is that Billy Strayhord, the composer of this iconic song is playing his song on Piano.
I wasn't saying it was bad, I was saying from a sax players point of view it should have more sax
Mutterings of the clueless...
Now, now. It's not always all about you, Sax Dude. Let the composer have his moment.