happy birthday, bill

[alocispepraluger102]

[Free For All]

Yes, Happy Birthday Strays!

The more I study his compositions and arrangements the more I am impressed by his talent. I've been hearing his version of Nutcracker quite a bit lately, and I really love what he did with that music. And what a great vehicle for his skills he had in Duke's band.

[alocispepraluger102]

thanks for the beautiful picture.

[paul secor]

I listened to '... and his mother called him bill' the other evening. Always make sure that I read Ellington's tribute to his friend when I listen to it:

He demanded freedom of expression and lived in what we consider the most important of moral freedoms: freedom from hate, unconditionally; freedom from all self-pity (even throughout all the pain and bad news); freedom from fear of possibly doing something that might help another more than it might help himself; and freedom from the kind of pride that could make a man feel he was better than his brother or neighbor.

[jazzbo]

Amen Paul. Those are fascinating words.

I love "The Peaceful Side" pictured above.

Swee'pea is a favorite of mine. . . .Hope you had a great afterlife birthday William!

[catesta]

Thank you, Mr. Strayhorn.