Caravan Transcription - When Ella and Duke Joined Forces

Caravan was written by Juan Tizol, a brilliant Puerto Rican trombonist in Duke Ellington’s band. Ellington first arranged the song for the band to record in 1936, and it became a regular standard thereafter. This recording comes from the famous collaboration with Ella Fitzgerald in 1957. The performers are all at the height of their powers: Ella’s vocal delivery is wonderfully expressive and rhythmically supple; Ellington and his band swing imperiously throughout; the scoring is harmonically rich, and there is a cornucopia of timbre on display, from ferocious saxophones and trombones to quietly floating trumpets, bluesy clarinet and elegantly swung hi-hat; and sailing over it all, the golden voice of the Queen of Jazz. The ensemble playing is magnificent, and the solos are poised and elegant. The journey of the music, from the rasp of the opening chord to the final stroke of the cymbal is a perfect arc. It is noteworthy that artistry of this quality was on display at the height of the Civil