Duke Ellington - Take the 'A' Train

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974), a prominent figure in the history of jazz, was a composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions and his work has come to be recognized as a cornerstone of American culture and heritage. His career spanned more than 50 years and included leading his orchestra, composing an inexhaustible songbook, scoring for movies, composing stage musicals, and world tours. Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974 and has earned 12 Grammy awards from 1959 to 2000, nine while he was alive.

"Take the 'A' Train" is a jazz standard by Billy Strayhorn and the signature tune of the Duke Ellington orchestra. It is arguably the most famous of the many compositions to emerge from their collaboration.The title refers to the "A" subway service that runs through New York City, going at that time from eastern Brooklyn up into Harlem and northern Manhattan, using the express tracks in Manhattan.

"Take the 'A' Train" was composed in 1938, and combines the propulsive swing of the 1940s big bands era with the confident sophistication of Ellington’s music.

This cover of the song is from 1943 with Mary Elizabeth Betty Roché (b.1920 – d.1999) an American blues singer, who became most famous during the period she was singing with Ellington’s orchestra.