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Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life
From the 1940s to the 1960s, Billy Strayhorn was the force behind the
sound of the renowned Duke Ellington Orchestra. BILLY STRAYHORN: LUSH
LIFE tells the story of this pioneering African American composer, arranger
and pianist. Strayhorn helped produce a body of work that has no rival
in originality and range—from unforgettable tunes and jazz melodies
to orchestral suites and soundtracks. He was the sole composer of many
classic compositions, including the Ellington theme song, “Take
The ‘A’ Train,” and the widely recorded “Lush Life.”
Yet at the time of his death in 1967 at age 51 from esophageal cancer,
most people were unfamiliar with his musical accomplishments and genius.
Today, historians and scholars agree that Billy Strayhorn remains one
of the most under-recognized American composers in history. Born in
1915, Strayhorn chose to live openly as a gay black man. It was perhaps
this decision—and his lifelong devotion to Ellington—which
contributed to his near anonymity as a major American composer. Ironically,
Strayhorn is the composer of many of the world’s most defining
and recognizable jazz standards. While Ellington is arguably the most
influential and celebrated jazz composer of the 20th century, Strayhorn
is unrecognized. BILLY STRAYHORN: LUSH LIFE poses answers to the question
of who was Billy Strayhorn, and why is he still relatively unknown?
Strayhorn was openly gay during a highly homophobic era. He was active
in civil rights before it became a popular cause. Yet, as courageous
as he could be, Strayhorn found it a challenge to receive a fair share
of the unique musical achievements and the considerable profits he helped
to generate. On the surface, their partnership seemed perfect. Ellington's
ebullient charm led him instinctively to the spotlight, while writers
speculated that Strayhorn shied from a more public role, both to maintain
his privacy and to avoid being persecuted for his homosexuality. Recent
scholarship, however, challenges this assumption, asserting that Strayhorn
lived an openly gay life and deeply enjoyed concert performances.
BILLY STRAYHORN: LUSH LIFE not only emphasizes the vast contributions
Strayhorn made to Ellington’s oeuvre, but also features his own
newly discovered compositions, with world premieres of his music featuring
singers Elvis Costello and Dianne Reeves, pianists Hank Jones and Bill
Charlap, saxophonist Joe Lovano and guitarist Russell Malone. With interviews,
performances and archival footage, BILLY STRAYHORN: LUSH LIFE showcases
Strayhorn’s gifts and illuminates the issues that deprived him
of deserved recognition.
Filmmaker Bio
Robert Levi
Writer/Producer/Director
Robert Levi has received three Best Script nominations from the Writers
Guild of America for his documentary work. His film Duke Ellington: Reminiscing
in Tempo premiered on the PBS American Experience series, received an
Emmy and later played on A&E’s Biography. Levi wrote, produced
and directed Mott Street, a 35mm dramatic film short for PolyGram, and
his work has screened at festivals including Berlin, London, Melbourne,
Munich and AFI. As a director of photography, Levi has collaborated with
directors, including Norman Jewison, and taught cinematography at Columbia
University’s Graduate Film School.
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Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved.
The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those
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