Duke Ellington's iconic "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" serves as a showcase for ensemble interplay on Wycliffe Gordon's 2001 album Standards Only. The AABA form in G minor moves at a relaxed medium tempo, and the performance features three extended solos that give the track a generous, unhurried quality. Trumpeter Randy Sandke opens with two choruses, his bright, precise playing bringing a warmth and clarity to the proceedings. Victor Goines follows with two choruses of tenor saxophone, his full-bodied tone and rhythmic authority driving the performance forward with increasing intensity. Eric Reed rounds out the solo section with two choruses of piano, his improvisation rich with the Ellingtonian harmonic sensibility appropriate to the material. The track illustrates Gordon's role as a bandleader who creates space for his sidemen to shine, a generosity of spirit that reflects his experience in the collaborative environment of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Ellington's music was a cornerstone of that organization's repertoire, and the comfort these musicians display with the Duke's compositional language is evident throughout. The tune's famous riff-based melody and its declaration that swing is the essential ingredient in jazz serve as an apt motto for an album that celebrates the standard repertoire with enthusiasm and deep musical understanding.
