Ellington's music was always considered ahead of its time and he was the first person to play linger pieces. At a time when pieces on records were usually three minutes long, Duke recorded "Creole Rhapsody," which was six and one-half monutes long.

Ellington wrote over 1,000 pieces. He composed music for the stage and for movies shch as Anatomy of a Murder and parig blues. Some of his most famous compositions are "Sophisticated Lady", "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me," and "I Got It Bad."

Duke Ellington defined jazz as "an American idion with African roots." In fact, jazz-like American society and many cocieties around the world - is the product of many cultures and influeuces. In some ways, it merges cultures and musical syles; in other ways, it maintains ethnic charactereistics.

Jazz began in the bars and nightclubs of poor urban neighborhoods. The first jazz performance was in the 1890s in New Orleans where Buddy Bolden led a jazz ensemble. Jazz styles- form traditional to swing to bebop-have changed over the years.

Todya, all styles of jazz are studied in mycic schools and listened to all over the world. Jazz has a strong following in cintinental Europe, Scandinavia, Japan, Africa, South America, and Canada. There are jazz festivals around the world every year.