In celebration of the release of Joe Jackson's new album The Duke, out today on Razor & Tie, Rolling Stone premiered the track for “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Go That Swing).” Teaming up with Iggy Pop on vocals, the track challenged both legendary artists to create “something that swings like hell, but isn't actually 'swing,” according to Jackson. In support of the album, Joe Jackson and the Bigger Band are hitting the road this September on a North American tour and includes musicians Regina Carter, Allison Cornell, Jesse Murphy, Adam Rogers, and Nate Smith.
The Duke is a decidedly unconventional salute to Ellington, demonstrating the timeless brilliance of his classic compositions while showcasing Jackson's sublime skills as an arranger, instrumentalist and vocal interpreter. Although it's only the second time he's recorded an album not comprised of his own compositions, The Duke is nonetheless a deeply personal project for Jackson, whose longstanding affinity for Ellington's pioneering spirit has served as a key inspiration throughout his own three-decades-plus career.
The Duke finds the iconoclastic English singer/composer/arranger/