Duke Ellington (Jazz Piano Solos, v. 9)

I am a HUGE Duke Ellington fan. He wrote so much great music, and his band, at its peak, was just incredibly powerful. The great classic is Ellington at Newport, from 1956, which relaunched his career and contains one of the greatest sax solos ever. And there are Jazz Party in Stereo and the great suite Black, Brown and Beige. Not to mention the Concert of Sacred Music, which still blows me away.

I was reading a book about jazz music theory a little while ago. Repeatedly, it would say things like: Jazz musicians didn't relaly start using suspended chords until the 1960s. Except Duke, who was using them in the 30s. He was so far ahead of everyone else that it is ridiculous. 

And if you don't know albums like Money Jungle (with Charles Mingus and Max Roach), then you are in for a real treat: Duke could play 'outside', too. And don't forget the amazing album he made with Coltrane in the early 60s.

This book contains arrangements of some of Duke's music. The links below are to 'official' scores on Musescore, meaning you can't download them without paying, but the complete sheet music is there, and you could play them off a tablet or something. Most helpfully, you can listen to at least some of them (played via MIDI), which is great for getting the rhythms right.

1. C-Jam Blues
2. Caravan
3. Come Sunday
4. Dancers In Love
5. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
6. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
7. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
8. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
9. I'm Beginning To See the Light
10. I'm Just a Lucky So and So
11. In a Mellow Tone
• As of this writing, that one cannot be 'played', so here's one on YouTube
  
12. In a Sentimental Mood
• Same: YouTube
  
13. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
14. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
15. Love You Madly
16. Mood Indigo
17. Perdido
18. Prelude to a Kiss
• YouTube, as well
  
19. Satin Doll
20. Solitude
21. Sophisticated Lady
22. Take the "A" Train
23. Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Full set here.