The Billy Strayhorn Collection brings together 17 memorable pieces written, arranged or made famous by the man of whom Duke Ellington said ‘(He) was my right arm, my left arm, all the eyes in the back of my head’; a shy man who realised early on that his dream of a career in classical music was unlikely to become a reality because of his race.
The music presented here reflects the full range of Strayhorn’s talent and contains his two most famous compositions Take The ‘A’ Train and Lush Life. Each piece in this collection is beautifully and faithfully arranged for solo piano, suitable for the intermediate to advanced pianist.
Strayhorn remained in the shadows and lived a life of quiet courage, working in the civil rights movement, living openly as a homosexual and using his abundant musical talent mainly for the good of the Ellington orchestra. Play his incomparable music and discover for yourself the genius of this jazz legend.
Song List:
- Balcony Serenade (from Perfume Suite)
- Creole Love Call
- Chelsea Bridge
- Dance Of The Floreadores (from The Nutcracker Suite)
- A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
- Johnny Come Lately
- Lotus Blossom Days
- Love Came
- Lush Life
- Multi-Colored Blue
- Paris Blues
- Passion Flower
- Peanut Brittle Brigade (from The Nutcracker Suite)
- Something To Live For
- Satin Doll
- Take The 'A' Train
- Your Love Has Faded