Duke Ellington: A Spiritual Biography (Lives & Legacies)
by Janna Tull Steed

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Book Reviews of Duke Ellington: A Spiritual Biography (Lives & Legacies)

Book Review: God's Messenger: Duke Ellington's Spirituality of Art
Summary: 5 Stars

Steed offers us a readable and entertaining narrative. The familiar landmarks are all here-Ellington's childhood in Washington, his apprenticeship in the 1920's, the breakthrough at the Cotton Club, adulation in Europe, the decisive collaboration with Billy Strayhorn, "Mood Indigo" and "Take the A-Train." What Steed does brilliantly is to weave these well-known pieces of Ellington's story into an account of his fitful spiritual quest. This is a sometimes elusive task, since Ellington did not write *about* God but, in a very real sense, wrote his music *for* God. It is Steed's ability to listen for hints of the transcendent in Ellington's own work-aided, to be sure, by the Duke's few explicit utterances on the subject-that makes the book a genuine journey of discovery.

The climax of the work, and in a sense the lens through which the author views Ellington's entire creative existence, is formed by the Sacred Concerts of the 1960's and 1970's. Although these are scorned by some jazz fans, Steed makes a convincing case that the Concerts are an important clue to interpreting Ellington's life and work. The Sacred Concerts, he said repeatedly to interviewers, were his most important work or statement. Steed shrewdly notes that Ellington didn't say his most important *music*. Rather, the concerts were an attempt, near the end of his life, to render something back to the mysterious Other who had always been present to him, and to summon others to humble praise of the Creator.

One need not be conventionally "religious" to enjoy this book. A Methodist minister (and jazz singer!) herself, the author is open to hints of grace in the secular world and especially in the world of the arts.

Sidebars on issues such as Ellington on screen and the early development of jazz enliven the presentation. This book opens up an important new avenue in Ellington research, and deserves to be widely read and quoted.

Summary of Duke Ellington: A Spiritual Biography (Lives & Legacies)

History & Criticism Books

• Subjects > Arts & Photography > Music > History & Criticism
• Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians
• Ethnic & National > African-American & Black
• Leaders & Notable People > Religious
• Professionals & Academics > Educators