Duke Ellington and His World

Lawrence spent 15 years writing this book, which is a mixture of praise and realism for and about the man whose path was always going to be successful, as the Duke himself believed. This last notion was somewhat enforced by Ellington’s mother, who was fiercely protective of her only child. While clicking through the pages one gets a heart-warming sensation learning that in this case, of perhaps the hardest-working and most innovative man in jazz, a child’s mother can receive the thanks and worship she deserves, beyond her years. She was clearly a driving source of inspiration, and Ellington’s attachment to her – and other less obvious home truths – are brought to the fore here. It is written by a man who had a sort of unrequited admiration for Ellington, having been dealt the opportunity of meeting him on several occasions, but never for long, due to the Duke’s busy schedule. This positions the biography as one that had a greater vision within the research, and with perhaps a slightly different purpose. All told, Duke Ellington and His World presents a refreshing view of the charming master of the keys.