KIDS DON’T GET ENOUGH Sentimental Mood,” and
ART THESE DAYS. So you “Take the ‘A’ Train.” His
can see why some of them historical concert in 1953 at
might accidentally confuse the Newport Jazz Festival
a jazz legend named Duke has entered the lexicon of
with royalty named duke. legendary live performances.
But it’s finally time to set There is no doubt about it,
the record straight. Ellington’s brand of jazz
Edward Kennedy “Duke” has contributed significantly
Ellington didn’t rule over to the American songbook
a small English estate. and to the lives of anyone
Instead he reignedsupreme who has ever tapped their
over jazz institutions like foot to a beat.
A piano player. A composer. An orchestra leader.
The Cotton Club. He riffed Duke Ellington reigned over a land called Jazz. Jazz is art, you dig? Art can
powerfully on the piano, but it was the full really transform lives.
orchestra that he considered his most compelling In fact, the more art kids get,
instrument. He introduced improvisation to his the smarter they become
compositions — a process unheard of in subjects like math and
using a 15-piece orchestra. The result science. And the more
was a different approach to jazz that likely they’ll become well- Give your kids a chance
to succeed. Up their
Royal dukes are squaresville. sparked a revolution and an evolution. rounded, cool members of daily dose of art.
They have no rhythm.
And they wear crowns. His music spread across the world society. For Ten Simple Ways to get more art in
with songs like “Sophisticated Lady,” “In a kids’ lives, visit AmericansForTheArts.org.
READIN’
ART
’RITING
’RITHMETIC
AMERICANSFORTHEARTS.ORG
