Life and Art

Commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of Duke Ellington's death took place yesterday at the graveside of Duke Ellington, Woodlawn Cemetery, New York City. Duke's grand daughter Mercedes was present with a small group of musicians including Art Baron, trombonist with  the orchestra.

Homage to Catalonia

Box of delights

A couple of very interesting videos have recently been posted to the cathode ray youtube. Firstly,footage and audio from a concert in Bucarest, 4 November, 1971:

And here is film from The Richard Nixon Foundation of Ellington attending the White House as Guest of Honour celebrating his seventieth birthday.

Material from other engagements is also included in the montage: Tootie for Cootie is perhaps from a dance engagement at The Smithsonian Institute, 20 January, 1969. It's Freedom and Praise God and Dance may be from a university function. The recording of Volupte may have been made 31 March, 1963 from a dance date at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington D.C.perhaps recorded by Willis  (Voice of America) Conover who produced the documentary on the White House celebration.

(With thanks to Brian Koller for discographical clarification).