The Colburn School · Education and film
Billy Strayhorn, out of Ellington’s shadow.
The Colburn School and bassist Marlon Martinez had years of research on one of jazz’s great composers. We shaped it into Ever Up and Onward, an eight-part video series for students, educators and anyone who loves the music.
One question per episode.
Each script gives the audience a way into the scholarship, then brings the answer to life through history, musical analysis and performance.
The sequence introduces Strayhorn before it tackles his collaboration with Ellington and the question of credit.
From the published series
- Episode 1
- Who is Billy Strayhorn?
- Episode 5
- Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s Collaboration
- Episode 6
- Uncredited Billy Strayhorn
Deep research needed a way in.
Strayhorn helped shape the sound of American jazz, but much of his work remained in Ellington’s shadow. Martinez had spent years researching, performing and recording that music.
The task was to preserve the depth of his knowledge while making it work for a high school student, a music teacher and a listener discovering Strayhorn for the first time.
The music carries the explanation.
We developed the educational framework, episode themes and narrative sequence, then wrote scripts from Martinez’s research. Historical storytelling sits alongside his musical analysis, archival material, interviews and live performance.
We also coordinated filming and schedules, selected supporting media and reviewed edits with Martinez, Colburn staff and filmmaker Camila Martins.
The series became part of Strayhorn’s continuing legacy.
Eight episodes bringing research, musical analysis and performance into one learning resource.
A body of scholarship became a sequence newcomers can follow, with the music there to hear.
The Billy Strayhorn Foundation highlighted the series as its 2023 Jazz Education Network conference theme.
The series is free to watch on Colburn’s site. The conference feature is documented by the Billy Strayhorn Foundation.
Credits
- Commissioned by
- The Colburn School and Marlon Martinez
- Education & scripts
- Protagonist Ink
- Production coordination
- Protagonist Ink
- Research, music & performance
- Marlon Martinez and the Marlonius Jazz Orchestra
- Film
- Camila Martins