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Mercer Ellington On Piano Jazz

NPR

Published March 13, 2015 at 5:19 PM EDT

Copyist, arranger and musician Mercer Ellington worked for his father, Duke Ellington, as a horn player before becoming manager of the group. He took on additional duties, including composition, resulting in his original tune "Things Ain't What They Used To Be."

On this 1994 episode of Piano Jazz, Mercer Ellington joins host Marian McPartland to discuss working for his famous father, composing and Billy Strayhorn, and to play a piano duet of "C Jam Blues." Mercer Ellington's own composition skills shine in "Moon Mist."

Originally broadcast on May 21, 1994.

Set List

"C Jam Blues" (E.K. Ellington)

"Prelude To A Kiss" (E.K. Ellington, I. Gordon, I. Mills)

"Chelsea Bridge" (B. Strayhorn)

"Moon Mist" (M. Ellington)

"Things Ain't What They Used To Be" (M. Ellington)

"Portrait Of Mercer Ellington" (M. McPartland)

"In My Solitude" (E.K. Ellington, E. DeLange, I. Mills)