The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program is unique among educational resources for high school jazz bands in the U.S. and Canada and American schools abroad. Duke Ellington's music is at the very heart of America's 20th-century musical heritage and lies at the core of the rich cannon of jazz music.

Jazz at Lincoln Center, committed to instilling a broader understanding of this music, created Essentially Ellington during the 1995-96 school year to make Ellington's music accessible to as many high school musicians as possible and to support the development of their school's music programs.

Each year Jazz at Lincoln Center transcribes, publishes, and distributes Duke Ellington Orchestra charts along with recordings and additional educational materials to approximately 1,500 high school bands in the U.S. and Canada and American schools abroad. These charts are original transcriptions of recordings by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, not simplified arrangements.