In Rep...

Saturday 23 April at 7:30pm

The Music of Duke Ellington with Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra

Jazz

Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra 

Directed by Martin Hathaway

A spectacular evening of Duke Ellington’s music. This concert represents the School’s relationship with the Duke Ellington Society UK, which tirelessly supports the revival of the music of the most important composer in jazz.

Milton Court Concert Hall

Website here.

What makes the evening's music so spectacular is that, according to my information, the Guildhall Repertory Jazz Orchestra will be performing the complete music from Ellington's final Columbia album All American In Jazz, transcribed by Michael Kilpatrick.

I'm not aware that Ellington himself ever performed any of this music live outside the recording studio, much less the complete work.

Check out all our live music listings here.

Friends, I wanna tell ya...

Here is a real rarity I have never seen before, uploaded very recently to Youtube: Duke Ellington's appearance on the television programme Atlantic Showboat, hosted by Hughie Green of Opportunity Knocks! fame.

The filming took place on board The Empress of Britain sailing from Liverpool to Montreal via Greenock. Ellington is accompanied by the Malcolm Mitchell Trio. George Formby (heh! heh! Never touched me!)was also apparently featured in the programme. Duke Ellington accompanied by George Formby... the mind boggles.

I think I'm right in saying that Malcolm Mitchell accompanied Ellington on his trip to Britain ten years earlier in 1948 when Musicians' Union rules meant that Ellington could work only with Ray Nance from the States. This particular performance of Take The 'A' Train, from 1959 is available on the CD The British Connexion.