Matthias Heyman has launched a new site devoted to seminal bassist and Ellingtonian Jimmie Blanton at https://www.mattheyman.com/pitter-panter-chatter featuring

… regular posts with tidbits, little-known facts, and deep dives on jazz bassist Jimmie Blanton (1918– 1942), best known for his tenure with composer and big band leader Duke Ellington between 1939 and 1941.

While we’re here, don’t forget to listen in to our Paul Gonsalves 100th Anniversary special Uptown Lockdown at https://www.pscp.tv/AP64740207/1YqKDpOWYXAKV.

Running out of Ellington (or Jazz in general) to listen to? Here are a few suggestions from around the web:

• First and foremost, catch up with our Uptown Lockdown broadcasts at https://www.pscp.tv/AP64740207/ - not to be missed!
• Jazz Times: 10 Very late Ellington Albums
• Terry Teachout’s two lists of Ellingtonia: the first a sort of greatest hits, the second less well known tracks that deserve a bit more listening.
• Duke appearing on What’s My Line in 1953
• A rather haunting version of Lush Life with Ella Fitzgerald
• A Soundie of It Don’t Mean A Thing
• Good Queen Bess (largely because it’s stuck in your webmaster’s head)
• The Jazz Centre UK has been publishing general interest Jazz playlists, one per decade from the 20s onwards, as well as their own Ellington playlist here.
• Ellington Live has collated the videos of Art Baron in conversation on Ellington. Ellington Live is well worth a general browse for all sorts of gems.

Got any more suggetions? Post them in our Discord chatroom at https://discord.gg/efQNUMa

All About Jazz recently published an extensive interview with Edward Green, Professor at Manhattan School of Music and the editor of the Cambridge Companion to Duke Ellington.

Ellington’s… masterpieces are vibrant evidence that opposite aspects of ourselves are meant to work together. And when they do, the result is beauty. – Edward Green

Enjoy it here.

DESUK is now on Twitter @dukesocuk! Where better to start tweeting than Flirtibird?

Oxford University Press presents Con Chapman’s new biography of the great saxophonist and Ellington frontman Johnny Hodges.

As the first ever biography on Johnny Hodges, Rabbit’s Blues details his place as one of the premier artists of the alto sax in jazz history, and his role as co-composer with Ellington.

The estimated release date is early November; look out for a review in a future Blue Light.

CBS ran this tribute to Duke Ellington in 1974. Featuring interviews with Sonny Greer, Russell Procope, Billy Taylor and Ella Fitzgerald and preceded by an advert for a film by the other Duke (John Wayne), and to be enjoyed not only for its footage of the maestro but for the very best in mid-1970s TV advertising.

Dr John (Malcolm John Rebennack Jr.) passed away on June 6, 2019. Among his extensive discography he leaves us an album of Ellington covers, Duke Elegant. Here’s a fun one. Check out an fascinating reworking of The Flaming Sword on the same album.

Birmingham is hosting 2020’s Documenting Jazz conference in January.

Birmingham City University is pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the Documenting Jazz conference, to be held on 16–18 January 2020. Now in its second year, Documenting Jazz brings together colleagues from across the academic, archive, library, and museum sectors to explore and discuss documenting jazz.

More details at documentingjazz.com

Thanks to all how who attended our meeting. Anthony picked out a favourite tune: Hot Feet