Sophisticated Lady
Encyclopedia
"Sophisticated Lady" is a jazz standard
, composed as an instrumental
in 1932
by Duke Ellington
and Irving Mills
, to which words were added by Mitchell Parish
. The words met with approval from Ellington, who described them as "wonderful—but not entirely fitted to my original conception".
That original conception was inspired by three of Ellington's grade school teachers. "They taught all winter and toured Europe in the summer. To me that spelled sophistication".
Arild Andresen
, piano with guitar and bass recorded it in Oslo on March 11, 1955 as the first melody of the medley "Klaver-Cocktail Nr. 3" and "With a Song in My Heart
" and "Flamingo
". The medley was released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice A.L. 3514.
The song has been covered in more contemporary times by the rock band Chicago
, on their back-to-the-roots disc, Night & Day: Big Band.
Linda Ronstadt
recorded the song with Nelson Riddle
for the album "Lush Life
" (1984).
In 1987, guitarist Larry Coryell
covered the song from his album "Toku Do".
In 2005, another instrumentalist Marcus Miller
covered the song from his album "Silver Rain".
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
, composed as an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
in 1932
1932 in music
-Events:*January 14 – Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto is premièred in Paris.*May 1 – The music to John Alden Carpenter's ballet Skyscrapers is recorded by the Victor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Nathaniel Shilkret; in addition to be being issued as six sides on 78 rpm discs, the...
by Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
, to which words were added by Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish
Mitchell Parish was an American lyricist.-Early life:Parish was born Michael Hyman Pashelinsky to a Jewish family in Lithuania. His family emigrated to the United States, arriving on February 3, 1901 on the SS Dresden when he was less than a year old...
. The words met with approval from Ellington, who described them as "wonderful—but not entirely fitted to my original conception".
That original conception was inspired by three of Ellington's grade school teachers. "They taught all winter and toured Europe in the summer. To me that spelled sophistication".
Arild Andresen
Arild Andresen
Arild Andresen was a Norwegian football and ice hockey player who played for Vålerenga in both sports.For the football team, he made his debut in 1948, in the inaugural season of the Norwegian Main League. He was capped once for Norway; in 1950, against Sweden. He retired after the 1954 season.He...
, piano with guitar and bass recorded it in Oslo on March 11, 1955 as the first melody of the medley "Klaver-Cocktail Nr. 3" and "With a Song in My Heart
With a Song in My Heart (song)
"With a Song in My Heart" is a show tune from the 1929 Rodgers and Hart musical Spring is Here.In the original Broadway production it was introduced by John Hundley and Lillian Taiz...
" and "Flamingo
Flamingo (song)
"Flamingo" is a popular song and jazz standard written byTed Grouya and Edmund Anderson and first performed by Herb Jeffries and Duke Ellington...
". The medley was released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice A.L. 3514.
The song has been covered in more contemporary times by the rock band Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
, on their back-to-the-roots disc, Night & Day: Big Band.
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
recorded the song with Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
for the album "Lush Life
Lush Life (Linda Ronstadt album)
Lush Life is a Platinum-certified, Grammy-nominated album by American singer/songwriter/producer Linda Ronstadt, released in late 1984. It was the second in a trilogy of jazz albums with bandleader/arranger Nelson Riddle....
" (1984).
In 1987, guitarist Larry Coryell
Larry Coryell
Larry Coryell is an American jazz fusion guitarist.-Biography:Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Richland High School, in Richland, Washington, where he played in local bands The Jailers, The Rumblers, The Royals, and The Flames. He also played with The Checkers from nearby...
covered the song from his album "Toku Do".
In 2005, another instrumentalist Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
covered the song from his album "Silver Rain".