When people look back in history to recount the contributions America made to mankind, Duke Ellington won't be too far down the list. A composer, band leader, and pianist, he's one of the most important figures in Western music. He was born in Washington, DC in 1899, the grandchild of slaves. By the 1940's he was considered a musical giant. Side by Side was a 1959 release, officially billed as a Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges project. Hodges was Ellington's lead sax player for years. Some of the other players, pictured in the clip below, are Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Roy Eldridge (trumpet), Jo Jones (drums), Johnny Hodges (alto sax), and Billy Strayhorn (piano). "Stompy Jones" was the lead track:
