Legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington had already made his mark on music history by the time he debuted at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943. Throughout the 1930s, he used blues and folk traditions in his arrangements, leading to the development of a new big-band sound and swing style. The 1955 performance of “New World A-Comin’” at the Hall (pictured) illustrates Ellington’s ongoing expansion of traditional jazz forms. ⁠ ⁠ In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, learn more about Ellington and the evolution of big bands through our Timeline of African American Music.