Duke Ellington A Drum Is A Woman (LP)

(Honey Pie Records) 15 tracks

A Drum Is a Woman is a musical allegory of the American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington and his longtime musical collaborator Billy Strayhorn. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the embodiment of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who is firmly rooted in the jungle with his drums. Zajj travels the world in search of fame and sophistication, merging with the influences of the cultures she weaves through the story, which provides a brief history of the rise of jazz and bebop. Originally recorded for the Columbia label in 1956, it was produced for television on the US Steel Hour on May 8, 1957.