Tone Parallel to Duke Ellington: The Man in the Music

In this insightful new volume, Jack Chambers explores Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington's music thematically, collating motifs, memes, and predilections that caught Ellington's attention and inspired his restless muse. In presenting Ellington's work in this manner, Chambers situates the music in the context in which it was created--historical, political, musical, biographical, and personal. Chambers offers a novel kind of access to the man and the music.

Ellington's music presents a daunting...