Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 12: Duke Ellington: Book & Online Audio

This collection captures nine of Ellington's most essential works in a format built specifically for serious practice and performance. Kenny Barron's piano, Ron Carter's bass, and Ben Riley's drums create a rhythm section that's attentive and swinging without ever overshadowing your own voice, making these tracks genuinely useful for musicians who need to learn standards that will show up in real gigs.

These nine pieces span a wide emotional landscape: there's the nocturnal intimacy of Mood Indigo and the tender introspection of Solitude, balanced against the confident stride of Take the 'A' Train and the sophisticated ease of Satin Doll. The rhythm section never rushes; instead, it creates space for reflection and individual voice.

Intermediate and advanced musicians preparing a repertoire of standards, whether for auditions, jam sessions, or professional work. This works equally well for soloists building their command of jazz melody and harmony, and for section players who need to understand how these tunes breathe as ensemble pieces.

• Study the melody carefully before diving into improvisation. Ellington's themes contain harmonic and melodic information that inform how the changes should be approached.
• Listen closely to how the rhythm section voices the harmony on the recording. These voicings offer subtle guidance without dictating your choices.
• Balance lyricism with swing. Ballads like Solitude and Mood Indigo demand emotional restraint; tunes like Take the 'A' Train thrive on rhythmic clarity and groove.
• Sit back slightly behind the beat on slower tunes; Ellington's music often feels best when you're patient with the phrasing rather than rushing the changes.

Use this collection to anchor a standards repertoire clinic or as part of a jazz history unit that examines Ellington's compositional legacy. You might also pair it with solo transcription work, having students learn these melodies before attempting their own improvisations over the tracks.

• Navigating jazz harmony and ii-V-I progressions
• Building melodic sensitivity to Ellington's harmonic voice
• Trading phrases and responding to the rhythm section in real time
• Balancing rubato and swing feel across ballads and uptempo tunes
• Translating written melody into idiomatic jazz phrasing