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Jazz Night in America on WRTI: Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life, Nov. 6th at 8 PM

Credit: William Gottlieb
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Adam Cuerden
Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)

The fruitful collaboration between Billy Strayhornand Duke Ellingtonis widely known to have brought us such classics as "Take The 'A' Train," "Chelsea Bridge" and "Isfahan." But behind the music, Strayhorn's life and identity were complex.

While composing some of the most harmonically rich jazz of its time — often in Ellington's shadow — Strayhorn was an outlier in that he led an openly gay life as a black man in the 1940s, an era rife with homophobia and racism.

In this episode of Jazz Night In America, Sunday, November 6th at 8 pm, hear interviews with Strayhorn's family members and biographer, along with rare archival tape of Strayhorn himself. You'll also hear Strayhorn's music performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, including pianist Johnny O'Neal's rendition of "Lush Life."

Listen to Jazz Night in America every Sunday from 8 to 9 pm on WRTI. Christian McBride is host.