East St. Louis Toodle-oo (1927)

The Ellington band’s theme song from 1927 until 1941 when it was replaced with Take The “A” Train. This evocative, multi-strained classic combines a mournful funeral dirge with jaunty 1920s jazz. Duke’s first masterpiece.

Instrumentation:

• Reed 1: bari, soprano (or clarinet)
• Reed 2: tenor, clarinet
• Reed 3: bari, clarinet
• 2 trumpets
• 1 trombone
• Banjo
• Piano
• Bass, Tuba
• Drums

Style: Medium Swing

Grade: 3

Solos (transcribed): Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet.

Hear the original recording: