In music, a riff is an ostinato … a chord progression, pattern or melody that is repeated over and over again. When pianist, composer Stan Kenton stands in front of his orchestra, a riff is a wall of creative sound that stirs your musical soul from your head right down to your tappin’ toes!
The ‘A’ train is the storied New York City subway renowned as the preferred means of transportation to Harlem. Here’s a segment from the film “Reveille with Beverly” (1943) featuring the famous Blanton-Webster edition of the Ellington Orchestra, with Ivie Johnson’s vocal.
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