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July 7, 1956: Duke Ellington at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Added: 2008-02-29 The Duke Ellington Ellington Orchestra performed at the American Jazz Festival at Newport, RI. After Ellington's career had been at an ebb for some years, this triumphant concert served as his comeback. The climax of the performance was 'Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue' where Paul Gonsalves played a tenor sax solo for 27 straight choruses. Following the concert, Ellington appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The concert recording became the best-selling Duke Ellington album.

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More facts on this day:

• 1916
  Guitarist Tiny Grimes born in Newport News, VA.

• 1930
  Tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley born in Eastman, GA.

• 1932
  Keyboardist/composer Joe Zawinul born in Vienna, Austria.

• 1937
  Count Basie records "One O'Clock Jump."

• 1956
  Duke Ellington at the Newport Jazz Festival.

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