Just Like Me: The Music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn

Willie Pickens and I have worked together as teacher and student for nearly 8 years. It was Willie who introduced me to the piano and started me on my musical journey. This album represents the bridge between the student-teacher relationship and the collaboration of two professionals. Make no mistake; Willie Pickens has an infinite number of musical lessons to offer through his ideas, his playing, and his overall wisdom. These lessons shine through the piano brilliantly on each track as he assumes the roles of accompanist as well as master soloist.

                Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn are two of the most important figures in music. Although there were hundreds of compositions to choose from, the ones I selected are those that I have grown fond of over the years, whether lyrically, melodically, harmonically, or all of the above. This album is far from flashy, yet it seeks to highlight the emotional depth that can come from simplicity.  

    1.       Come Sunday

    2.       Rocks In My Bed

    3.       Do Nothing ‘Til You Hear From Me

    4.       I'm Just A Lucky So And So

    5.       I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

    6.       Just Squeeze Me

    7.       Day Dream

    8.       I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

    9.       Solitude

    10.   Sophisticated Lady

    11.   Lush Life

The Jazz Ahead Experience

We’ve just finished our final Jazz Ahead Performance at the Kennedy Center and are now riding the bus to Wilmington, Delaware. There are two more performances and then it’s back home.

I’ll be honest, when I first arrived in Washington D.C. to begin my residency at the Kennedy Center. I was wondering what I had gotten into. I had never participated in a “jazz camp” before and this is certainly what it seemed like. “Jazz boot camp” may be more appropriate. Rehearsals seemed endless, we were up early and by the time we got back to the hotel we were exhausted; too exhausted to even think about trying to go out. I was starting to regret my participation.



But on the eighth or ninth day I had a new realization. I saw that through working with the brilliant composers/arrangers that I was grouped with as well as great artists such as Carmen Lundy, Chip Jackson, Winard Harper, the legendary Curtis Fuller, Dr. Nathan Davis, George Cables and Dr. Billy Taylor; my compositions began to take new life. They were shaped and molded until we discovered ways to play them that I had not imagined. After spending hours and hours rehearsing each other’s tunes, I began to see that this is how it should be. This is the approach we as musicians should always take when it comes to our music. The attention to detail, constant evaluation and reevaluation, and dedication to the music should be the driving force in our lives if we are to ever come close to reaching our full potential as artists. The people we were working under were as old as 88 years and they were still working just as hard trying to ensure ours and the program’s success. Why shouldn’t we be able to do the same?



It was then that my complaints and negativity ceased. They served absolutely no purpose anyway but to bring down the mood and harm the quality of the rehearsals and performances. After all, how many opportunities does one get to work side by side with the legends of their industry all for free room and board and money for food? Not many, if any. So in the end I am glad I participated and I appreciate the program. The musicians that I met are some of the greatest people I have had the pleasure of meeting. The experience truly turned out to be a much needed lesson in patience, gratitude, and work ethic ; let alone music. Now comes the time to apply it. Jazz Ahead.



Milton Suggs Friday March 26, 2010 8:06pm ET