Pribek

I found this photo at the Library of Congress website.

Duke Ellington is seen here reflected in his dressing room mirror in a picture taken by William Gottlieb for an article in the September 23, 1946 issue of Down Beat magazine. The caption read, “…Duke Ellington with his mirror reflecting his always present piano, his conservative ties, his 20 suits, his 15 shirts, his suede shoes and his smiling self.” Ellington enjoyed being the sophisticated gentleman and would tell the band,
“Let’s not pout, gentlemen. It makes bad notes.”

I found the photo by doing a Google search for “Duke Ellington’s Suit”. I visited the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City once and they had an exhibit of Duke Ellington’s suit. It was in a glass case and, it was all there down to the well worn, brown shoes. For some reason it really had an impact on me.

It was the suit of a professional man but, not someone who was really putting on airs. I’m guessing it was tailored but, it had some wear as well. He probably didn’t have 20 suits at the time he was using the one I saw. That probably came further down the line. But, he still wore conservative ties even when he had 20 suits.

I got the impression that he wanted to present himself well but, the suit wasn’t the point. It was a good suit that one would wear to go do a good job.

I’ve been to a lot of museums. As a matter of fact, I did some copyright research at the Library of Congress and, after the work was done, I made as complete an exploration of the Smithsonian Museums as one can probably make in a few days. I’ve been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Jazz Museum in K.C. (and the adjoining Negro League Baseball Museum) and scores of others. For some reason, nothing sticks with me like Duke’s suit has.

And really, I can’t describe, in any detail, what the suit looked like; the suit really wasn’t the point. It was really more about a general feeling, an abstract thought, until now.

What it really is all about; what Duke Ellington’s suit means to me is this…

“Let’s not pout, gentlemen. It makes bad notes.”