#billystrayhorn — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #billystrayhorn, aggregated by home.social.
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10 Essential Billy Strayhorn Tunes
https://jazzfuel.com/essential-billy-strayhorn-tunes/
#jazz #BillyStrayhorn -
1963 - Billy Strayhorn - Lush Life/Take The A Train - Bagdad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1vmtONAzmY
#jazz #BillyStrayhorn #DukeEllington -
Billy Strayhorn (Bagdad, 1963)
#jazz #BillyStrayhorn #gif #LaBoiteàGif -
1965 - Billy Strayhorn - Copenhague
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYNmj48I6XQ
#jazz #BillyStrayhorn #DukeEllington -
Billy Strayhorn (Copenhagen, 1965)
#jazz #BillyStrayhorn
#LaBoiteàGif #gif -
Whistler at Tate Britain
Back to the hotel for a short siesta after spending most of the day at Tate Britain, where there is a special exhibition of works by and about James McNeill Whistler. The main collection at Tate Britain is free, but the Whistler exhibition costs £24 to see. It’s well worth it though.
The first picture shows Whistler’s famous portrait of his mother, who seems to be holding court. My favourite pieces, however, the Nocturnes, two of which I have mentioned on this blog before. There are three shown below, but photographs don’t do them justice at all. The appearance of the paint when seen close up is quite remarkable, a sort of translucent quality to it even when the picture is very dark. Whistler was one of the first artists to really master painting in the dark without using moonlight or other obvious illumination.
The last of these is particularly interesting to me. When the great American songwriter Billy Strayhorn saw the beautifully evocative painting (above) of one of the bridges over the River Thames, it inspired him to write an equally evocative song to be performed by his longstanding musical collaborator and friend Duke Ellington. The song was written in 1941, but it was only years later that he realized that he had named it after the wrong bridge. The painting was of Battersea Bridge; but he had named the song Chelsea Bridge, a much less romantic location. Chelsea Bridge is an intriguing tune, based on minor sixth chords voiced via their third inversions, it sounds almost atonal but very evocative, just like the painting.
In one of the video segments played during the exhibition we hear the actor Anton Lesser quoting Whistler with words the effect that he saw colours like notes on a keyboard; he started naming his paintings after musical works, e.g. “Symphony in White” before he got to his masterpieces, the Nocturnes.
I wrote about another of the Nocturnes here. Nocturne in Black and Gold, in the same series as the third picture above, is famous for having been at the centre of a libel case. The influential art critic John Ruskin hated it and accused Whistler of “flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face”. Whistler sued for damages (though he couldn’t really afford to). He won the case against Ruskin, but the outcome was financially disastrous for him because he was awarded only one farthing in damages and was bankrupted.
Tate Britain has an extensive permanent collection of primarily English art from about 1600 onwards, not least a huge collection of works by J.M.W. Turner. It’s fascinating to see so many of these together, charting this extraordinary artist’s evolution from brilliant if conventional upstart to pioneering impressionist. Along the way Turner’s interest in conventional themes began to wane in favour of the interplay between sea and clouds, to the extent that his works began to look like abstracts. There is in my mind a strong influence on Whistler. This one, ostensibly a seascape with a distant shore, reminds me of Rothko.
#BillyStrayhorn #ChelseaBridge #JMWTurner #JamesMcNeillWhistler #JohnRuskin #TateBritain -
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees: Hip-Hop, Funk, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Indie Rock Legends Honored
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Reveals 2026 Inductee Class
The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame has officially announced its Class of 2026, recognizing six groundbreaking artists, musicians, producers, and innovators whose contributions have shaped American music across multiple genres.
The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, North Carolina. Presented by Visit Mooresville, the annual celebration honors artists with deep North Carolina roots who have made a lasting impact on the music industry.
Tickets for the public are available now and start at $80.
2026 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Inductees
MC SHA-ROCK (Wilmington, NC)
Widely recognized as the first female MC in Hip-Hop culture, MC SHA-ROCK helped define the early sound and style of rap music as a member of the pioneering group Funky 4 + 1.
Her groundbreaking work helped establish modern microphone techniques, lyrical delivery, and live performance standards. In 1981, Funky 4 + 1 became the first Hip-Hop group to perform on national television during an appearance on Saturday Night Live, introducing Hip-Hop culture to mainstream America.
Sugar Bear (Red Springs, NC)
Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott is best known as a founding member of Experience Unlimited (E.U.), one of the most influential groups in Go-Go music history.
The band achieved national success with the hit single “Da Butt,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Black Singles chart in 1988 and earned a Grammy nomination. E.U.’s impact helped bring Washington D.C.-style Go-Go music to audiences worldwide.
Arrogance (Chapel Hill, NC)
Formed in Chapel Hill, Arrogance is considered one of North Carolina’s original indie rock bands.
The group pioneered the DIY music movement through self-produced recordings and independent distribution strategies long before independent music became mainstream. Their influence helped lay the foundation for future generations of independent artists and bands.
Barry Poss (Durham, NC)
As founder of Sugar Hill Records, Barry Poss played a crucial role in the evolution of bluegrass and Americana music.
Through Sugar Hill Records, Poss worked with legendary artists including Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Jerry Douglas, Nickel Creek, and many others. His work helped modernize bluegrass music and introduce it to new audiences across the globe.
Billy Strayhorn (Hillsborough, NC)
One of jazz music’s most respected composers and arrangers, Billy Strayhorn is best known for his decades-long collaboration with Duke Ellington.
Strayhorn composed jazz classics such as “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Lush Life,” both of which remain essential pieces of the American jazz canon. His contributions continue to influence musicians around the world.
Eddie Ray Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
George Clinton (Kannapolis, NC)
Music icon George Clinton will receive the prestigious Eddie Ray Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2026 ceremony.
As the founder of Parliament-Funkadelic, Clinton transformed the landscape of funk music and influenced generations of artists in Hip-Hop, R&B, rock, and pop music.
Already a member of the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame since 2009, Clinton is being honored for more than five decades of innovation, creativity, and cultural impact.
2026 Induction Ceremony Details
Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
Location: Charles Mack Citizen Center, Mooresville, NC
Tickets: Starting at $80
Public Event: YesThe ceremony will feature special appearances and live performances from inductees and guests. Additional performers and event details will be announced in the coming months.
Visit the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum
Located in Kannapolis, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame Museum celebrates the state’s rich musical heritage with exhibits honoring artists from every genre.
Visitors can explore memorabilia from legendary North Carolina artists, including Charlie Daniels, Roberta Flack, Luke Combs, Jermaine Dupri, Randy Travis, The Avett Brothers, and many more.
New exhibits featuring memorabilia from the 2026 inductees will debut in October alongside the induction ceremony.
Admission to the museum is free.
North Carolina’s Musical Legacy Continues
From Hip-Hop and funk to jazz, bluegrass, Americana, and indie rock, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame’s 2026 class showcases the incredible diversity of talent that has emerged from the Tar Heel State.
Their stories remind us that North Carolina continues to be a powerful force in shaping American music and culture.
For more local arts, music, entertainment, and community news, follow DoRaleigh.com.
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Published by Bryan Tomlinson | DoRaleigh.com
#AmericanaMusic #ArroganceBand #ArtsAndCultureNC #BarryPoss #BillyStrayhorn #BluegrassMusic #ConcertsNorthCarolina #DoRaleigh #FunkMusic #GeorgeClinton #HipHopHistory #JazzLegends #MCSHAROCK #MooresvilleNC #MusicNewsNC #NCMusicHallOfFame #News #NorthCarolinaEvents #NorthCarolinaMusic #NorthCarolinaMusicHallOfFame #RaleighMusicNews #SugarBear -
The lush life of Billy Strayhorn, the gay Black man who was Duke Ellington's 'right arm'
https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.advocate.com/history/billy-strayhorn-black-gay-musician
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Sunday afternoon listening.
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My friend Bay Whitaker died this morning.
Here is a video of her singing and playing the guitar at rehearsal I attended.
She has a lovely voice and beautiful smile.
She had been active on the Sheffield music scene for decades and on a personal level responsible for me playing the piano in public again
I don't remember the date this brief video was made. Maybe 2 years ago
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"Lotus Blossom" è una delle più belle canzoni di Billy Strayhorn. Qua è Duke Ellington a suonarla, senza sapere che lo stavano registrando.
Ecco alcuni appunti su questo delizioso brano
👉 https://go.leoravera.it/3YKMlAu#BillyStrayhorn #DukeEllington #Jazz
https://go.leoravera.it/3YKMlAu -
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: Tonk [unissued 1960]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzDi6FEXF1s
#jazz #DukeEllington #BillyStrayhorn -
Johnny Hodges and his Orchestra - Blues A-Plenty
Hodges, away from the Duke, focusing on a bunch of great blues numbers with great sidemen like Billy Strayhorn, Ben Webster, Jimmy Woode, Roy Eldridge, Vic Dickenson, and Sam Woodyard.
Given a new mastering by Bernie Grundman, and a great pressing by QRP…this is a definite winner.
#nowplaying #vinyl #blues #jazz #JohnnyHodges #johnnyhodgesandhisorchestra #BillyStrayhorn #benwebster
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Il y a 57 ans, le 31 mai 1967, disparaissait prématurément le pianiste américain Billy Strayhorn.
57 years ago, on May 31, 1967, American pianist Billy Strayhorn died prematurely.
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Song of the Day April 29 2024
In remembrance of the birth of Edward Kennedy Ellingon bka Duke Ellington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Ellington
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - “Take The ‘A’ Train”
https://youtu.be/D6mFGy4g_n8?si=_eGPmVuJH3QgHpXk
#SongOfTheDay #SOTD #SOTD2024 #April29 #EdwardKennedyEllington #DukeElington #TakeTheATrain #BillyStrayhorn #BigBand #Jazz #SignatureSong #NYC #SongsAboutNYC #NYCSubways #MTA #Music #MusicVideo #1960s #1930s
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Hi everyone. Hope all is well. Just thought I would share a recording I just did of me playing one of my favorite songs. It’s called Lush Life, written by Billy Strayhorn. Hope you enjoy. Feel free to repost and share.