The Jazz At Your Place Gig
The Inspiration
The origins of Duke’s Place lie in a tune with perhaps the most useful title ever – C Jam Blues. It tells us what it’s for (jamming), what key it’s in (C), and what it’s form is (The Blues). Brilliant! The melody is custom made for jamming too – 7 G’s up to a C x 3 – no photocopying, no music stands, no rehearsals. Also , brilliant!
Reimagined as Duke’s Place, it was the perfect choice for jazz legends Louis Armstrong and C Jam Blues originator Duke Ellington to play on a session known as “The Great Summit” in 1961. The lyrics are a kind of report on what was happening as it was happening. Louis came to “Duke’s Place” to jam, the cats were swinging, and the fellas and chicks were all digging it. This is a great template – just tell your story and keep it simple.
When Duke teamed up with another legend, Ella Fitzgerald in 1965, it was a no-brainer to take her back to Duke’s Place and she tore the roof off. Now we invite you to “take your tootsies” down to visit Duke’s Place, “do your tricks” and see where you might take it.
The Gig
Blues is a foundation of jazz, and in this gig, you’ll join in the tradition by reimagining a classic, just like Louis Armstrong did when he transformed Duke Ellington’s C Jam Blues into Duke’s Place by adding lyrics to Duke’s melody.
Using Duke’s Place as your reference track, you and your band mates will:
- sing the original melody and lyrics
- write your own lyrics to the melody of C Jam Blues.
- navigate a blues form,
- “comp” for your band mates,
- improvise over the changes.
By the end you’ll have a fully notated blues tune with your own original lyrics, just like Louis did with Duke’s Place, capturing the spirit of jazz and telling your own story.
Listen to the Gig Based Learning Version You’ll be Playing, Adapting, and Arranging
Practise your part with our resources
Rehearse your part with our backing tracks
Share your part using our band chart
Use these to get started, then try to rely on it less each time. Some gigs need more reading than others, but when you can, practise playing with your eyes up so you can respond to your bandmates and what’s happening in the room.
Duke’s Place
(Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong)
GBL Tempo = 116 bpm
(Drummer Count – 1,2. 1,2,3,4)
(Chorus 1)
Baby, take me down to Duke’s Place
Wildest box in town is Duke’s Place
Love that piano sound in Duke’s Place
(Chorus 2)
Saxes do their tricks in Duke’s Place
Fellas swing their chicks in Duke’s Place
Come on, get your kicks in Duke’s Place
(Chorus 3 – Solo/s)
(Chorus 4)
If you’ve never been to Duke’s Place
Take your tootsies to Duke’s Place
Life is in the spin in Duke’s Place, yeah!
The Background
The Evolution of a Classic
“C” Blues–Fox Trot
September 1941
A few great features to note on the original record label:
- “C” is inverted commas and it’s not a “Jam” yet.
- It’s a Fox Trot? – woah!
- Duke’s name is in the composer area but it’s possible that Barney Bigard “wrote” the tune with possible input from long-time Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn
- Also note that Duke played piano on the track but the group is listed as “Barney Bigard and Orchestra”. The in brackets “(An Ellington Unit)” shows Duke’s before-his-time entrepreneurship
- Feat. The Great Jimmy Blanton on Bass
Jam Session
December 1941
A few months later Duke takes charge on a new recording with a collection of Jazz Cats in a famous recording called “Jam Session” set in the “Harlem Cats Eatery”.
The recording is for a “Soundie” – the first music videos played in audio visual jukeboxes. During their 7 year heyday from 1941, almost 2000 three minute clips were produced! This was the first Soundie to feature African American performers.
Now that Duke’s in charge he adds:
- A piano introduction then a chorus of blues piano with the riff in the horns
- Four-bar breaks that lead into each solo
- A twelve-bar drum solo by Sonny Greer
- An all-ensemble final chorus, attributed to Billy Strayorn
The C Jam Blues
January 1942
Sensing the tune was now at its peak, Duke took the cats into the studio and recorded the classic take.
Duke's Place
1961
By 1961, Duke and Louis were revered as supreme architects and innovators of jazz. They finally came together to record two albums eventually packaged as “The Great Summit”. For the session, The C Jam Blues is transformed into “Duke’s Place” – a vocal and trumpet feature for Louis.
Barney Bigard had left the various Ellington “units” and had been C Jam Blues as a feature in Louis Armstrong’s band. He comes back for this session with Louis completing an awesome circle begun with “C” Blues–Fox Trot – woah again!
Session producer Bob Thiele shares the lyric writing credit with Bill Katts and Ruth Roberts – maybe they wrote a chorus each?
The evolution is complete when Louis and Duke perform “Duke’s Place” on The Ed Sullivan Show that same year. The Ed Sullivan Show was a television variety program that aired Sunday nights on CBS for 23 years from 1948-1971. With audiences of 30 to 40 million viewers each week, this was a gig that could change an artists’ life!
This is the only filmed performance of Duke and Louis.
Covers
GBL Curated Playlist
Tutorials and Transcriptions
The Jazz Gig
A curated collection of videos designed to guide, inspire, and deepen your understanding. Whether you’re here to learn, practice, or just explore, this playlist brings everything together in one place for an easy, continuous watch.
The Orchestra Swings: Duke’s Place
Explore the energy of swing through Duke Ellington’s “Duke’s Place” with this interactive resource from Carnegie Hall. Featuring play-along materials and creative activities, it introduces students to blues form, improvisation, and the rhythmic feel that defines jazz.
C Jam Blues in Bb Dexter Gordon Transcription
A closer look at Dexter Gordon’s take on C Jam Blues in Bb, breaking down phrasing, feel, and classic bebop language.
Oscar Peterson’s Tricky 4 Bar Break Explained
Dig into one of Oscar Peterson’s slick 4-bar breaks and see how timing, touch, and phrasing bring it to life.
Playing Jazz Piano the Oscar Peterson Way
Explore key ideas that define Oscar Peterson’s style, from groove to voicings and expressive runs.
Blues Playing What to Do and What to Avoid
A practical guide to shaping your blues lines with intention, focusing on what really makes phrases sound right.
Wynton Marsalis on Getting Better at the Blues
Wynton shares insights on developing feel, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the blues tradition.
Learning the Blues with Wynton Marsalis
A session on blues fundamentals, with Wynton breaking things down in a clear and musical way.
Jon Batiste Teaches the Blues
A fun and expressive take on blues playing, with Jon Batiste showing how to bring personality into your sound.
C Jam Blues Oscar Peterson Transcription
Study Oscar Peterson’s version of C Jam Blues and pick up ideas on phrasing, swing, and articulation.
Turn Any Song Into the Blues
Learn how to reshape melodies and harmonies to give any tune a blues feel, featuring Jon Batiste.
What the Blues Scale Doesn’t Teach You
Go beyond the scale and uncover the nuances that make blues playing sound authentic.
Understanding the Blues Scale
A breakdown of the blues scale and how to use it musically across different contexts.
Beginner Blues Improvisation Basics
Start building your blues improvisation with simple, practical ideas you can use right away.
Marcus Printup on Blues Inflections
Learn how subtle inflections and phrasing choices can shape your blues sound.
Books and Articles
Just a Lucky So and So The Story of Louis Armstrong
A vibrant introduction to Louis Armstrong’s life, from humble beginnings to becoming one of jazz’s most influential voices.
Duke Ellington The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Follow Duke Ellington’s journey as he shapes the sound of big band jazz with style, creativity, and a one-of-a-kind orchestra.
Ella Fitzgerald The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa
Discover how Ella Fitzgerald’s voice and artistry helped redefine jazz singing and inspire generations.
That Swingin’ Sound The Musical Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
A warm look at the friendship and musical chemistry between two jazz legends and the sound they created together.
The Jazzmen How Duke Ellington Louis Armstrong and Count Basie Transformed America
Explore how three iconic figures shaped jazz and left a lasting mark on American music and culture.
Becoming Ella Fitzgerald The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song
Trace Ella Fitzgerald’s rise from hardship to stardom, and how her voice helped define the sound of American music.
Documentaries
Podcasts
Episode 172:
Ella Fitzgerald Revisited and a Request
Program: The History Chicks
Runtime: 1 hr | Released: 03 Feb 2021
A reflective revisit of Ella Fitzgerald’s legacy, this episode blends listener requests with a broader look at what made her voice so enduring. The discussion moves between musical detail and personal impact, highlighting how her phrasing, tone, and interpretive clarity continue to shape how we hear jazz vocals today.
S10 E6:
Becoming Ella Fitzgerald
Program: The Music Show
Runtime: 54:00 | Released: 04 Jan 2025
This episode traces the early life and rise of Ella Fitzgerald, focusing on the turning points that shaped her path into one of jazz’s defining voices. It balances biography with musical insight, showing how resilience and artistry came together in her sound.
S12 E9:
The Ten Most Important Years in Jazz
Program: You’ll Hear It
Runtime: 52:10 | Released: 07 Apr 2025
A focused conversation on a pivotal decade in jazz history, where rapid musical changes redefined the genre’s direction. The hosts break down key developments, styles, and figures, offering a clear sense of why this period still echoes in modern playing.ung.
Duke Ellington:
A Night with the Duke
Program: Black History Buff
Runtime: 09:00 | Released: 24 Apr 2024
An immersive look at Duke Ellington through performance and storytelling, capturing both the elegance of his music and the depth of his bandleading. The episode paints a vivid picture of his sound world and lasting influence.
S10 E6:
How to Thematically Improvise
Program: You’ll Hear It
Runtime: 17:00 | Released: 20 Sep 2021
A practical discussion on building solos with intention, focusing on thematic improvisation rather than running lines. The episode breaks down how to develop ideas, create cohesion, and make improvisation feel more like storytelling.
Websites
Learn More About Soundies
Discover how Soundies brought music to life on screen in the 1940s, acting as an early form of the modern music video.
The Great Summit Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
Explore the historic 1961 recording session where two jazz legends finally came together for a rare and remarkable collaboration.
Duke’s Place Teacher Resource Kit
A classroom-ready guide with activities and materials to help explore Duke Ellington’s music and the blues.
