Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra

By Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (1998). DUKE ELLINGTON: THE PIANO PRINCE AND HIS
       ORCHESTRA. Illus. by Brian Pinkney. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
       ISBN 0-7868-0178-6.

PLOT SUMMARY:

This is a beautiful book that tells the story of one of the greatest composers and musicians of the 20^th century, Duke Ellington. It brings to life the early life and musical background of Edward Kennedy Ellington in Washington, D.C. and follows him through his nightclub start to his heyday in Harlem at the Cotton Club. His triumphant collaborations with his fellow musicians, Sonny Greer, Joe Nanton, Otto Hardwick, James Miley, and Billy Strayhorn would eventually lead to their performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The achievements and cultural heritage of African Americans is exemplified in this gorgeous tribute to the swing and jazz music of Duke Ellington.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS:

“Duke painted colors with his band’s sound.” This book is truly a vibrant celebration of color, music and words. The pages explode with sound and each illustration dances with movement, color, and rhythm.  Joe Nanton’s trombone music is described as “smooth melodic gold”. James Miley and his trumpet “wail like a man whose blues were deeper than the deep blue sea”. And Duke “slid his honey-colored fingertips across the ivory eighty-eights.”

The setting and illustrations takes us back to the early 20^th century, from his parents’ drawing room in Washington, D.C., to the stylish nightclub The Cotton Club in Harlem, and even into the homes of fans through the only source of entertainment, the old-time radio.                            

The language in the book is so lyrical and is so indicative of early 20^th century slang. “Cats”, “threads”, “Daddy-O”, “cuttin’ the rug”, and “ace” are all examples of Jazz Age slang that provides a sense of time and place in the book.

The back matter includes biographical background information and an extensive list of resources that indicate that the reader is getting an authentic cultural experience. The story of Duke Ellington is the story of how an African American musician impacted all of American culture through his musical innovation and genius. Duke Ellington tells the story of the man who brought to the forefront “the music of my people” and is forever an icon of American and African American culture.

AWARDS:

Coretta Scott King Award 1999

Caldecott Honor Book 1999

REVIEW EXCERPTS:

School Library Journal: “A royal introduction to the piano prince. Told in a swingy conversational tone and highlighting the musician's childhood, early ragtime days, and stellar rise to popularity, playing at the Cotton Club and, later, Carnegie Hall, this is a jazzy treat. It is rare to find text that describes music so well. Phrases such as "sassy ride on his cymbal," "musical stream," and "purple dash of brass" carry the auditory experiences of the Duke's music right off the page. Young readers will find more than just a few facts here. They will learn what Duke Ellington did for the jazz world, how his music was played, and the legacy he left behind. Brian Pinkney's distinctive scratchboard, gouache and oil paintings are a harmonious complement to Andrea Pinkney's text. Bright, wild colors on soft neon backgrounds are beautifully balanced with black-and-white highlights. It is the blending of words, symbols, and pictures that bring this subject to life. A page of biographical information and impressive source notes conclude the presentation. This book swings. Don't miss it.”

Kirkus Reviews: Addressing readers directly “You ever heard of the jazz-playin' man, the man with the cats who could swing with his band?'' the Pinkneys embark on a cool and vibrant tour of Duke Ellington's musical career, from the pool hall ragtime that  “set Duke's fingers to wiggling,'' to his 1943 Carnegie Hall concert, also giving some of the soloists that played with him, and songwriter Billy Strayhorn, a chance to step forward. Translated into color and visual forms, music floats and swirls through the scratchboard scenes, curling out of an antique radio, setting dancers to “cuttin' the rug'' at the elegant Cotton Club and, of course, trailing behind an  “A'' train. Like Chris Raschka's solos, Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop (1992) and Mysterious Thelonius (1997), this loving tribute temptingly evokes the sound and spirit of a jazz pioneer.

CONNECTIONS:

Coretta Scott King Award Website: http://www.ala.org/emiert/cskbookawards

Caldecott Medal Website: http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal

Official Duke Ellington Website: http://www.dukeellington.com/

Brian Pinkney’s Website: http://www.brianpinkney.net/

Biographical Information about Andrea Davis Pinkney: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1624/Pinkney-Andrea-Davis-1963.html