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Duke Ellington on how jazz is a good “barometer of freedom”

July 20th, 2023

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photo by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress

Duke Ellington, 1946

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“Put it this way: Jazz is a good barometer of freedom… In its beginnings, the United States of America spawned certain ideals of freedom and independence through which, eventually, jazz was evolved, and the music is so free that many people say it is the only unhampered, unhindered expression of complete freedom yet produced in this country.”

-Duke Ellington

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Listen to the 1962 recording of Duke Ellington performing “The Feeling of Jazz” [InGrooves/1201 Music]

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Tags: duke ellington, memorable quotes

One comments on “Duke Ellington on how jazz is a good “barometer of freedom””

T.A. Hoffman says:

May 16, 2024 at 4:51 pm

Very true.

Reply

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