Jazz Break at Noon Archive - April 20 - 24, 2026

Archived Broadcast: April 20 - 24, 2026

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) is one of the most-recognized and revered figures in jazz history.  He is among the genre’s most-prolific composers and longest-running bandleaders, widely considered one of the most influential American musicians of all time. This week, on the Jazz Break at Noon, we’ll examine where it all started: how a driven sign-painter from Washington D.C. assembled his first band, made the leap to New York City, achieved national fame at the Cotton Club, and even began touring internationally - - all before 1939.  

Join guest host Ryan Weber for select recordings and special broadcasts of the years before Duke Ellington made himself a household name; Early Ellington on Jazz 91.7FM.

Listen to the full broadcast playback below!
 

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