Título: Duke Ellington
Seção: Early post-war years
Background: Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, to James Edward Ellington and Daisy (Kennedy) Ellington in Washington, D.C. Both his parents were pianists. Daisy primarily played parlor songs and James preferred operatic arias.

Conteúdo: World War II brought about a swift end to the big band era as musicians went off to serve in the military and travel restrictions made touring difficult. When the war ended, the focus of popular music shifted towards crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Jo Stafford, so Ellington's wordless vocal feature "Transblucency" (1946) with Kay Davis was not going to have a similar reach. With inflation setting in after 1945, the cost of hiring big bands went up and club owners preferred smaller jazz groups who played in new styles such as bebop. Dancing in clubs also subjected club owners to a new wartime tax which continued for many years after, which made small bands more cost-effective for club owners.  Ellington continued on his own course through these tectonic shifts. While Count Basie was forced to disband his whole ensemble and work as an octet for a time, Ellington was able to tour most of Western Europe between April 6 and June 30, 1950, with the orchestra playing 74 dates over 77 days. During the tour, according to Sonny Greer, the newer works were not performed, though Ellington's extended composition, Harlem (1950) was in the process of being completed at this time. Ellington later presented its score to music-loving President Harry Truman. Also during his time in Europe, Ellington would compose the music for a stage production by Orson Welles. Titled Time Runs in Paris and An Evening With Orson Welles in Frankfurt, the variety show also featured a newly discovered Eartha K

user: What of importance happened in his early post years?

assistant: Count Basie was forced to disband his whole ensemble and work as an octet for a time,

user: why was he forced to disband?

assistant: World War II brought about a swift end to the big band era as musicians went off to serve in the military and travel restrictions made touring difficult.

user: did he tour at all?

assistant: was able to tour most of Western Europe between April 6 and June 30, 1950,

user: what did his playlist include?

assistant: Titled Time Runs in Paris and An Evening With Orson Welles in Frankfurt,

user: What did people think about his music?

assistant: early 1950s, Ellington's career was at a low point with his style being generally seen as outmoded,

user: why did his music appear to be outmoded?

assistant: When the war ended, the focus of popular music shifted towards crooners

user: did he work with others?

assistant: show also featured a newly discovered Eartha Kitt,

user: Any other people?

assistant: compose the music for a stage production by Orson Welles.

user: what was the work?

assistant: Eartha Kitt, who performed Ellington's original song "Hungry Little Trouble" as Helen of Troy.

user: Was he signed with any label?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: who was in his band?

assistant: Sonny Greer, Lawrence Brown, and most importantly Johnny Hodges

user: did they stay with him his entire career?

assistant: In 1951, Ellington suffered a significant loss of personnel: