Jason Moran has dedicated the past year to celebrating Duke Ellington's 125th anniversary through concerts, deepening his appreciation for Ellington's music. Performing at the Apollo Theater, he discussed the intricate emotional layers of Ellington's works, particularly highlighting 'Black and Tan Fantasy.' Moran noted how Ellington's compositions embrace both darkness and light, urging listeners to explore multiple facets of themselves. Throughout this exploration, he finds comfort amid today's chaotic backdrop, emphasizing the lasting impact of Ellington's music as a guide through complex emotions.
This music for me still feels so vital, he said. It unlocks a lot of keys. Earlier this month, Moran took some time at the Apollo Theater where he would perform a spellbinding Ellington-themed solo concert the following night and reflected on what he called the knotty nature of Ellington's works, highlighting the way they lean into emotional complexity.
For Moran, the feeling of tension that's inherent in a work like Black and Tan Fantasy carries with it a lesson for the listener. Ellington, he said, wants us to have more than one side of ourselves.
Moran said he has found solace in Ellington's mingling of darkness and light: I couldn't ask for a better companion.
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