Joe Williams discusses on breaking into jazz.

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Joe Williams discusses Duke Ellington.

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Joe Williams discusses aspiring jazz singers.

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Q: “You probably know as many Ellington tunes as anybody I know…”

A: “I don't know, I used to know much more. I used to know a lot more about all of those things. But ... and not necessarily keeping up, but enjoying some of the things that I hear from time to time with today's music and the things that are very popular today. Some of the older things, some of the things, say I have been listening to Ellington since the 30s, right? Some of them had faded from memory and you get to the bridge of a tune and you say “Wait a minute, how does that bridge go?” you know, “Wait a minute, where does it go?” And sometimes, you can remember the melodies and not the lyric, you know. And maybe being over 40 too has something to do with it.”