It Don’t Mean A Thing
Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
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This 1943 film footage captures the Duke Ellington Orchestra performing the swing era anthem “It Don’t Mean A Thing” with the singing of violinist and trumpeter Ray Nance, and trombonist ‘Tricky’ Sam Nanton.
*The song’s title was a derived from a saying often used by the Ellington Band’s former trumpet player Bubber Miley.
“It Don’t Mean A Thing” would quickly become a Jazz standard; probably the first song to use the phrase “Swing” in it’s title.
*The Duke Ellington Orchestra, unlike many of their contemporaries, was able to make the transition from Hot Jazz of the 1920’s to the Swing music of the 1930’s fairly easily.
Stan Getz