"IT'S ALL A MISTAKE"

Thousands Here "Jitterbug" to "Duke" Ellington's Band

"Jitterbugging is all a big mistake."

So says Edward Kennedy Ellington. And Mr. Ellington, who is better known by his nickname of "Duke," should know.

But mistake or not, thousands of fans who jammed the Forum Monday night to hear Duke Ellington and his fifteen-piece band jam and jive in the hottest and most lengthy swing session ever heard in Vancouver, found no complaint with jitterbugging, or the music with the "bugs" dance.

While the majority of the capacity audience sat enthralled by the heavily-brassed band, a small portion gyrated to the Harlem King of Swing's music. But even these paused to marvel at the small, isolated groups of "hepcats" who siezed the golden opportunity to jitterbug.

CHEER HOT NUMBERS

A major portion of the city's negro population, ranging from a babe in arms to elderly matrons, cheered the "Duke's" numbers, the hot brass solos, and the singers. And it was the members of the swing king's race whose dancing outshone that of all comers on the floor.

The 40-year-old (and he frankly admits it) pianist and composer explained the origin of the jitterbug, while relaxing in his Hotel Vancouver suite Monday afternoon.

"Somebody saw some dancing in Harlem that particularly appealed," explained "Duke." "Then they went back to the Savoy Grill, where most of these dances are first seen, and started doing what, to the best of their memory, they had seen.

"The dance caught on, and soon Harlem was imitating the white people, totally unconscious t hey were doing someone else's conception of their own dance."

But the present trend is away from the jam session and the jitterbug, explained Mr. Ellington.

AT COLLEGE DANCES

"When we play for college dances we are frequently cautioned to play sweeter and slower music than has been in vogue.

"But when we play for socialites, then we have to jam and jive. They are always a couple of years behind."

Duke Ellington, whose compositions have proved many of the most popular and lasting pieces of the age, particularly "Sophisticated Lady," was practically forced from the commercial art business to music during his school days in Washington, D.C., where he was born.

He played for a small orchestra, whose personnel changed almost nightly, at local dances in Washington to put himself through school. With five members of this early band, all of whom are still with him, he went to New York in 1923, soon to make his name wold famous in the celebrated Cotton Club.

There are two photos, one of the trumpets and one of Duke at the piano. The caption beneath the photos says:

ELLINGTON COMES TO TOWN -- Monday night, for the first time in eleven years, Vancouver's music lovers were able to dance to one of the big "name" bands -- Duke Ellington's orchestra. Thousands jammed into the Forum to hear the famed orchesatra play some of their specialties.

Top picture shows Ellington standing with the orchestra, while below the "maestro" is shown in his most characteistc pose, seated at the piano.

But Music Critic Fails to "Get in Groove'

By STANLEY BLIGH

Upwards of 4000 people jittered and slithered, swayed their bodies and clapped their hands to the rhythmic sounds of Duke Ellington's band at the Forum, Monday evening.

Judging by the manner that hundreds crowded round the band platform, heads nodding, arms and shoulders in time with the music, they were having the time of their lives.

The more sedate, sitting on the raised seats at the sides, beheld a sea of uptuned faces with eyes following the antics of the various performers as each took a solo part in fornt of the microphone.

DANCED WITH DELIGHT

The enthusiastic fans applauded, they cheered, they danced with delight as the trumpets shrieked, the saxophones and clarinets wailed, the trombones moaned and the drums beat forth a deadly rhythm.

Although it was supposed to be a dance, there were very few people actually dancing. They all seemed to be content to stand and drink in the many weird sounds emanating from the various instruments.

Occasionally a few would break away and dance. Then suddenly a circle would be formed, and some ardent youths and maidens, would be seen in the centre going through all kinds of peculiar motions with their bodies, arms and legs.

CRITIC NONPLUSSED

When the writer decided to review the performance of this noted dance band, he little knew how very ignorant he was of the modern dance idioms. He finds now that he has nothing in his vocabulary to describe the ear-splitting sounds that rent the air. But then, whe does a music critic know about present-day "hot" music? Even in our ignorance, we felt the "heat."

Be that as it may, it was quite evident that the vast crowde enjoyed itslef to the full and were quite happy to worship at the shrine of one of th erecognized masters of - - - -?

Some day, perhaps, we shall be given "Eyes to see and ears to hear" with intelligent understanding.

Duke Ellington and his band was a presentation of Hilker Attractions Ltd. and is the first of the top flight bands to visit Canada.