Billy Strayhorn covering himself with a mellow and hypnotic version of "Take the A Train":
He had in fact played this song often in lieu of Ellington:
It is funny to see him walk up to the piano like a school boy - but as soon as he hits the keyboard...
Around 1:30 you can see Paul Gonsalves asleep on the bandstand!
This song has been covered by so many artists - I just discovered this nice and simple one by the late Funk maestro Bernie Worrell, from his album "Standards":
Perhaps he had heard Billy Strayhorn's version above and decided that taking it slow was the way to go?
This is the music that Bernie Worrell grew up with, as a kid.
Wikipedia:
George Bernard Worrell, Jr. (April 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016)
[1] was an American
keyboardist and record producer best known as a founding member of the
Parliament-Funkadelic collective. In later years, he also worked with acts such as
Talking Heads,
Bill Laswell, and
Jack Bruce. He is a member of the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. Worrell was described by journalist
Jon Pareles as "the kind of sideman who is as influential as some bandleaders," with his use of
synthesizers particularly impactful on
funk and
hip hop.
[2]