Eighty years ago yesterday, the Duke Ellington Orchestra played a dance at the Crystal Ballroom, Fargo, North Dakota. Two fans recorded the proceedings. Ulf Lundin tells the story here.
Fargo 1940 is one of the great moments in music. The best way to hear it today: as a 2-CD set from Storyville Records. Here’s one number from late in the evening, a killer “St. Louis Blues,” featuring Ray Nance, Barney Bigard, Ellington, Ivie Anderson, Ben Webster, Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, and Rex Stewart.
Related reading
My take on Fargo 1940 : All OCA Ellington posts (Pinboard)
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Ellington at Fargo
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