Daily Archives: August 25, 2011

Why Ellington’s Mood Indigo

Duke Ellington was prolific. With over a thousand compositions under his belt you would think picking a song to cover would be problematic. For me there were always four that stood out, In a Sentimental Mood, Solitude, Mood Indigo and the lesser known Reflections in D. All to me point to an introverted, intelligent and devastatingly emotional being, able to articulate all through euphonics. Its a double edged sword.

You ain’t been blue,
no, no, no
You ain’t been blue
Till you’ve had that mood indigo

For what I had in mind, those lyrics picked the song for me. Along with the hauntingly beautiful horn arrangement, the words dictated the tempo and the title the colour.

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