Mood Indigo

song by Ellington, Bigard and Mills

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July 16, 2026

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"Mood Indigo" is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, and Irving Mills, first recorded in 1930. It is known for its blueslike character and slow tempo. Ellington, a master composer, often drew inspiration from his musicians, including Bigard, to create his unique musical frameworks.12

The song was a significant piece during Ellington's tenure at Harlem's Cotton Club, where he explored various musical categories. "Mood Indigo" is considered one of his most celebrated works and exemplifies his innovative approach to jazz, including his sophisticated harmonic sense and experimentation with instrumental timbres. It remains a classic in the big-band jazz repertoire.12

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Duke Ellington
Ellington’s ensemble
…most famous examples is “Mood Indigo” in his 1930 setting for muted trumpet, unmuted trombone, and low-register clarinet. In 1931 Ellington began to create extended works, including such pieces as Creole Rhapsody, Reminiscing in Tempo, and Diminuendo in Blue/Crescendo in Blue. He composed a series of works to highlight…
Read More
…most famous examples is “Mood Indigo” in his 1930 setting for muted trumpet, unmuted trombone, and low-register clarinet. In 1931 Ellington began to create extended works, including such pieces as Creole Rhapsody, Reminiscing in Tempo, and Diminuendo in Blue/Crescendo in Blue. He composed a series of works to highlight…
Read More

jazz
Duke Ellington, the master composer
…celebrated of these was “Mood Indigo” (1930), the first of many pieces with a blueslike character, usually set in slow tempos. In these and in such other song and dance numbers as “Sophisticated Lady” (1932) and “Solitude” (1934), Ellington was able not only to exploit the individual talents of…
Read More
…celebrated of these was “Mood Indigo” (1930), the first of many pieces with a blueslike character, usually set in slow tempos. In these and in such other song and dance numbers as “Sophisticated Lady” (1932) and “Solitude” (1934), Ellington was able not only to exploit the individual talents of…
Read More