Smithsonian Celebrates Ellington, Strayhorn

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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., has opened its new exhibition, Jazz Composers: Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.

The exhibit focuses on two of the greatest composers in jazz and uses music manuscripts, orchestrations, arrangements, and other documents from the Museum’s collection to shed light on two signature pieces: “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Caravan.”

Curated by music historian-educator John Edward Hasse, the exhibit runs through August.



  • Courtesy_of_the_Ulmer_family.jpg

    To the world, James Blood Ulmer was a legend, a visionary and a musical force whose sound was distinctive and unique. To his family, he was their teacher, their storyteller and a source of strength.

  • Rodney_Holmes_Courtesy_Meinl.jpg

    A drummer’s drummer, Rodney Holmes gigged with everyone from Joe Zawinul and Carlos Santana to Steve Kimock and the Brecker Brothers.

  • DB26_Critics_Poll_Montage.jpg

    Clockwise from top left, Mary Halvorson, Patricia Brennan, Adam O’Farrill, Keith Jarrett’s At the Deer Head Inn: The Complete Recordings, Sheila Jordan and Jaki Byard.

  • Abdhullah_Ibrahim_Detroit_Jazz_Festival_2022_by_Michael_Jackson.jpg

    Ibrahim was an early jazz acolyte, studying the music via 78s he would buy from soldiers stationed in South Africa — who also gave him the nickname “Dollar.”

  • DB26_Joe_Lovano_by_Michael_Jackson.jpg

    Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet will record live at New York’s Village Vanguard for ECM records on Aug. 26–27.


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