He brought an entirely new level of style and sophistication to jazz music. Although a gifted piano player, Duke Ellington used the orchestra as his principal instrument. He considered himself a composer and arranger rather than just a musician, like Jelly Roll Morton before him.
It was in 1917 when Duke began playing music professionally in Washington, D. C. Stride piano players like James P • Johnson and Willie “The Lion” Smith influenced his piano technique. Duke led a band called The Washingtonians, which played at The Hollywood Club in Manhattan (the club was later renamed as the Kentucky Club). This band acquired a style all its own when trumpet player Bubber Miley joined it, bringing with him his unique plunger-mute style of playing. Called the “ Jungle Sound，” this sound came to be largely responsible for Ellington’ s early success. A good example of this style of playing is the song East St. Louis Toodle-Oo. In 1924，the group recorded their first album, Choo Choo ( Gotta Hurry Home and Rainy Nights ( Rainy Days) ) . However, the band didn’t hit the big time until after Irving Mills became their manager and publisher in 1926. In 1927, the band re-recorded versions of East St. Louis Toodle-Oo, then debuted two songs that would be associated with Duke for the rest of his career, Black and Tan Fantasy and Creole Love Call.
Ellington’s Orchestra, unlike many of its contemporaries, was able to make the transition from 1920s hot jazz to 1930s swing music. One song it played, It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), even came to define the era. What kept the Ellington Orchestra a major force in jazz was this very ability to adapt and grow with the times.
The fame and influence of Ellington continued to grow throughout the 40s and 50s. His band continued to come up with jazz standards like Take the ‘ A ’ Train, Perdido, the 4 C ’ Jam Blues, and Satin Doll Duke wrote several religious pieces in the 1960s. He also composed The Far East Suite, then also collaborated with a highly diverse group of jazz musicians, among them Charles Mingus and Max Roach with whom he played a trio.
1.What is the main topic of this passage?
2.According to the passage, Duke Ellington worked as all of the following EXCEPT as a（ ）.
3.Which of the following statements would the author of this passage most probably agree with?
4.All of the following statements about Duke Ellington are true EXCEPT（ ）.
