TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword: Further Conversations with Duke, by Robert E. Johnson

Preface

1.Introduction

2.  Jazz Prehistory

3.  Ellington: Origins and Early Development

4.  Mercer Ellington, 1979

5.  The Mills Regime

6.  Lawrence Brown, 1982

7.   Shades of Gray   

8.  Ellington Meets Chicago, 1931

9.  Russell Woodward, 1933

10.  Golden Age

11.. Henry Blankfort, 1982

12.  A Crooked Thing

13.  Blue Note Memories 

14.  Nadir

15.   Resurrection

16.  Alice Babs, 1983

17.  Duke's People

18.  Stanley and Helen Dance, 1982

19.  Coda

Bibliography

Appendix:  recommended reading, recordings and filmography