Rockin' in Rhythm / Twelfth Street Rag

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Recorded under a pseudonym due to contract restrictions, this Duke Ellington session introduces an aggressively swinging, highly complex instrumental that became a permanent fixture of his repertoire. The dense, weaving horn voicings and propulsive rhythm section highlight the transition from 1920s jazz into the fully formed architecture of the swing era. The arrangement is a masterclass in utilizing contrasting textures within a large ensemble.