Though first published in 1987, the Duke's music is timeless, and this excellent book, written by musicologist Peter Gammond, is now available as a modestly priced ebook. With numerous black & white historic photos, the readable narrative provides a chronological history of Duke Ellington's musical career starting as a part time pianist at Washington's Poodle Dog Cafe up to his death in 1974. But with its alphabetic list of all the sideman who ever worked with the Duke together with a detailed discography this book should be particularly prized as an essential reference work by all dedicated jazz enthusiasts: it lists all the Duke's recorded work from East St Louis Toodle-oo in 1926 to the live recording of the Eastbourne Concert in 1973, faithfully detailing all the supporting sidemen on each recording date.
