Passion Flower

The Music of Billy Strayhorn long thought of as a chapter within the Duke Ellington songbook has become recognized as one of the most important bodies of work in 20th century American music. In Strayhorn's short life time the greater part of recorded examples of his masterworks were by the Ellington Orchestra or groups led by players from that revered organization. In the half century since the death of the man affectionately known as Sweet Pea many of his classic compositions have found their way into the mainstream jazz repertory via recordings by some of the genre's greatest players. Ellington's eulogistic 1968 LP And His Mother Called Him Bill brought into sharp focus the breadth of Strayhorn'swork. Now we can add John DiMartino's uniquely personal interpretations to that illustrious list.