Thursday 1 June 2023

Live: June 2023

10 June, 2023 16:00 (EST)

Strayhorn Symposium: Known and Unknown 
Library of Congress, Washington DC

Strayhorn Symposium: Known and Unknown

Date and Location

Part of Concerts from the Library of Congress ; LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

Join us to hear experts on Strayhorn and his legacy celebrate this important figure and his collection at the Library of Congress with a lecture and panel discussion..

Keynote Lecture: David Hajdu, author of Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn
4pm, Whittall Pavilion

Panel Discussion: Strayhorn: Known and Unknown
5pm, Whittall Pavilion

Presented through the generous support of the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family

Part of “Salute to Strayhorn”

Event Resources

10 June, 2023 20:00 (EST)

Big Band Evening with Russell Malone, guitar 
Library of Congress, Washington DC

Big Band Evening with Russell Malone, Guitar

Date and Location

Part of Concerts from the Library of Congress

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

Loren Schoenberg, conductor
Russell Malone, guitar

The Library’s salute to Billy Strayhorn celebrates the music and legacy of an original American voice, presenting two remarkable concerts, a lecture by the composer’s biographer David Hajdu, a symposium and screenings of two landmark movies with scores representing his work in the realm of film.  Our minifestival is a unique offering curated from the riches of the Billy Strayhorn Collection: nearly 8,000 documents, including manuscripts, sketches, photos and papers. Expert Strayhorn scholars will examine the composer’s career, from his earliest years in Pittsburgh through his 28-year collaboration with Duke Ellington. 

Saxophonist and conductor Loren Schoenberg, Senior Scholar at The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, has delved into the Library’s archives to design a standout big band evening bringing to life both great Strayhorn classics and a few rediscovered gems. You’ll hear lesser-known Strayhorn masterpieces like “Overture To A Jam Session,” “Orson,” and “Boll Weevil Ballet,” along with the classics: “Take the A Train,” “Satin Doll,” “Lost In Meditation,” “Chelsea Bridge,” and others. Russell Malone will share his new interpretations of Strayhorn’s music, in a very rare chance to hear electric guitar merged with the magical Strayhorn arrangements. 

Presented through the generous support of the Revada Foundation of the Logan Family

Part of “Salute to Strayhorn”

17 June, 2023 19:30(BST)

Duke Ellington Sacred Concert St George's Singers, Mary Carewe and The Cottontail Orchestra

The Stoller Hall, Chethams School of Music, Long Millgate, Manchester M3 1SB

St George’s Singers with Mary Carewe and The Cottontail Orchestra


Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert is a unique blend of jazz, choral music, gospel and blues, and taps into Ellington’s roots in African–American culture and his deep religious faith. The concert features the joyous sounds of St George’s Singers, together with some of the UK’s great jazz performers: the dynamic voice of Mary Carewe, and the creative talents of The Cottontail Orchestra. Described by Ellington himself as ‘the most important thing I have ever done’ the Sacred Concert is the musical expression of his faith, and is for anyone – jazz lovers, committed believers, choral music fans – who loves music and wants to ‘praise God and dance!’  




ABOUT MARY CAREWE

Mary Carewe is one of the most accomplished and versatile concert and recording artists in the UK.  She has sung around the world at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall in concerts ranging from classic Hollywood and Broadway to Berlin cabaret and The Music of James Bond. Her recordings include jazz standards and ‘A Crush on You’ – 15 Gershwin songs specially arranged for her with the Swonderful Orchestra and pianist Philip Mayers. Her voice features on the classical chart topping CDs Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary and Cantata Mundi by composer Karl Jenkins, and she regularly records movie soundtracks and theme tunes. 

 ABOUT THE COTTONTAIL ORCHESTRA

The Cottontail Orchestra brings together some of the UK’s leading musicians, committed to bringing fresh artistry and boundless energy to the great music of Duke Ellington.  Drawn from a host of ensembles such as Manchester’s own Beats & Pieces Big Band and the Manchester Jazz Collective, to the Sid Lawrence Orchestra and countless touring shows, they are steeped in jazz history and authentic stylistic approach, using the original creative talent from within its ranks to bring new life to this wonderful music. 

Details here

18th June 2023, 15:00 (EST)

Such Sweet Thunder: Ellington Effect Workshop 28: Ring Dem Bells with David Berger

Ring Dem Bells

Jazz trivia quiz: Name a swinging jazz piece that features chimes? Actually, there are two, both by Ellington: High Life (1929) and Ring Dem Bells a year later. Sonny Greer plays chimes on both. Both relegate the chimes to a simple call-and-response. Sonny told me that he taped small pieces of paper on the chimes with the note names written out. One night his bandmates switched the papers. When Sonny hit the first couple of notes, he burst out laughing and couldn’t stop until the tune was over. Ellington, the alchemist, turned what should have been a corny novelty number featuring chimes into a jazz classic. He found a simple rhythmic figure for Sonny to play and repeated it, only changing pitch when needed to fit the chord changes. Hodges and Cootie are featured in solos and a call-and-response chorus between Hodges’ alto and Cootie’s vocal. With only three saxophones in the band, Duke enlisted Juan Tizol’s valve trombone to join the saxes for their soli chorus where they trade with the chimes. Other soloists are Bigard, Tricky, and Carney. The performance by all is riveting. Lyrics were added subsequently and never recorded by Ellington. Irving Mills is credited, but it is possible that the lyrics were ghosted. Mills was Duke’s manager and controlled everything. He was known for buying songs and lyrics outright. This catchy tune was performed and recorded by numerous bands including Andy Kirk, Lionel Hampton, and Charlie Barnet Some used the published lyrics, some with original lyrics, and some instrumental only.   There was a jazz conspiracy theory many years ago that a young Charlie Barnet played the chimes on this recording. He was not listed in the personnel, and upon close listening, it’s apparent that Sonny Greer stops playing the drums several times in order to play the chimes. So much for conspiracy theories. Personnel Recorded Hollywood CA, August 26, 1930  Victor V-61011 take 6 Reeds: Johnny Hodges (alto sax), Barney Bigard (tenor sax and clarinet), Harry Carney (alto and baritone sax)Trumpets: Arthur Whetsol, Cootie Williams, Freddy “Posey” JenkinsTrombone: Joe “Tricky Sam” Nanton, Juan Tizol (valve)Banjo: Fred GuyPiano: Duke EllingtonBass: Wellman BraudDrums: Sonny Greer Form The tune is 16 bars (8+8) Intro (4 bars)Head (16 bars)1 Chorus Clarinet1 Chorus Head w/Hodges solo1 Chorus Bari1 Chorus Plunger trombone1 Chorus Duet (Alto/vocal)Modulation (6 bars)1 Chorus repeated Trumpet solo with sax bkgd1 Chorus call-and-response Chimes/SaxesShout Chorus w/clarinet filagree

Booking here



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