Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra (Caldecott Honor Book)

by Andrea Pinkney, Brian Pinkney (Illustrator)

Overview

A joyful biography of jazz pioneer Duke Ellington, recognized with a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award Honor, brought to life by a bestselling husband and wife duo.

Born in 1899, Duke Ellington was the forerunner in the evolution of jazz. By the time he was nineteen he was playing at parties, pool halls, and cabarets; and then, in 1927, he entertained at the hottest place around, The Cotton Club in Harlem. But the defining moment of his career came when Duke and his orchestra gave a groundbreaking performance at Carnegie Hall, when they first performed his suite Black, Brown, and Beige, a tribute to the history of African American people. To this day, Duke, the “King of the Keys,” is beloved by jazz fans old and new.

This is a stunning introduction to Duke Ellington—a legend who continues to live on and influence musicians everywhere. 

Don't miss the other Great Black Performers biographies:
Alvin Ailey
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786814206
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Series:	Great Black Performers , #2
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	76,603
Product dimensions:	8.55(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	AD800L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 books for young readers, among them The Red Pencil and A Poem for Peter, as well as several collaborations with her husband Brian Pinkney, including Sit -In and Hand in Hand, which received the Coretta Scott King Book Award.

Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children, including two Caldecott Honor books, and he has written and illustrated several of his own books. Brian has received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustration and three Coretta Scott King Book Award Honor medals.

The Pinkneys have been named among the "25 Most Influential People in Our Children's Lives" by Children's Health magazine. They live in Brooklyn, New York.

Editorial Reviews

This book swings. Don’t miss it.”

—School Library Journal

“A cool and vibrant tour of Duke Ellington’s musical career . . . this loving tribute temptingly evokes the sound and spirit of a jazz pioneer.”

—Kirkus

"The joy in Ellington's music, and the joy his musicians felt in playing it, is apparent on every page."—Booklist

"The husband-and-wife team captures the spirit of an individual, an era and a musical style."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

According to PW's starred review, "The husband-and-wife team captures the spirit of an individual, an era and a musical style." Ages 5-9. (Jan.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

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. Beth Tegart, Oneida City Schools, NY

School Library Journal

Addressing readers directly, "You ever heard of the jazz-playin' man, the man with he 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. This loving tribute temptingly evokes the sound and spirit of a jazz pioneer.

Kirkus Reviews