News on Duke Ellington

Acclaimed trumpeter Marsalis composes Blues Symphony

2010-02-23T18:36:50Z

<div><p>ATLANTA (Reuters) - Acclaimed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, arguably the world's most prominent jazz musician, is set to premiere a major new project -- composing a Blues Symphony for orchestra.</p><p>In keeping with a career that spans jazz, classical music, band ...

The Bohemian Caverns in Washington

2009-08-15T17:15:48Z

The Bohemian Caverns music club is seen in Washington on August 15, 2009. The club, opened in 1926, has hosted jazz legends Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn,

2010-02-26T08:28:27Z

<div><p>LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Late jazz luminary Duke Ellington graced the Billboard 200 album chart for the first time in 41 years this week.</p><p>"Best of Duke Ellington" opened at No. 186, marking the bandleader, composer and arranger's first entry since "Francis ...

Tony Bennett Presents A Painting To The National Portrait Gallery

2009-04-30T18:31:33Z

WASHINGTON - APRIL 29: Musician and artist Tony Bennett speaks to reporters after presenting his painting of jazz musician Duke Ellington to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on April 29, 2009 in Tony Bennett leaves his painting of friend, jazz great Duke Ellington with Smithsonian</div><div><p>Tony Bennett donated a watercolor he made of longtime friend Duke Ellington to a Smithsonian museum on Wednesday, the 110th anniver...

Portrait Gallery Bennett

2009-04-30T17:58:47Z

A watercolor painting by singer Tony Bennett, of Duke Ellington, is hung at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, on Wednesday, April 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Jazz takes the 'A' train from New York to Baghdad

2010-03-03T08:58:46Z

<div><p>It was an unlikely journey but Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' train" rang out in Baghdad's "Green Zone" on Saturday, almost 50 years after the jazz legend himself played in the Iraqi capital.</p><p>This time it was New...

Duke Ellington first African American to solo on coin

2010-03-01T10:58:43Z

<div><p>Jazz icon Duke Ellington has become the first African American to appear solo on a US coin intended for everyday use, officials at the US Mint said Tuesday after a celebration to mark the quarter-dollar's release.</p><p>"He's the first Africa...

DC celebrates release of Duke Ellington quarter

2010-03-01T11:04:34Z

<div id="subtitle">Duke Ellington becomes first African American prominently featured on a US coin</div><div><p>Jazz musician Duke Ellington has become the first black American to be prominently featured on a U.S. coin in circulation with the release of a quarter honoring the US Mint released 24 February 2009 showing the face of a 25-cent coin with jazz legend Duke Ellington, the first African American to appear on an American coin. The District of Columbia commemorative quarter showing Ellington playing the piano will be introduced by Louis Bellson dies at 84; played with greats such as Ellington, Goodman</div><div><p>Big band and jazz drummer Louie Bellson, a master musician who performed with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, US Mint unveils DC quarter featuring jazz great Duke Ellington; program moves to territories</div><div><p>The nation's capital now has its own quarter.</p><p>The U.S. Mint on Monday released the coin featuring Tom Stoppard and Almost Free Theatre could play a 15-minute Hamlet to cut out the prevarications and welcome the masses in the 1970s, we can do the same for jazz in 2008. So here's how to translate jazzspeak, follow the plot, and nod in the right places.</p><p>First, you need a storyline, which goes roughly like this:</p><p>In the early 20th centu...

Shooting from the hip

2010-03-02T00:41:09Z

<div><p>Every now and then, every national or local film theatre reckons it's time for another season of "Jazz and the Movies". So all the over-cooked chestnuts come out of the fire again: we'll have Clint Eastwood's Bird; Nat King Cole playing WC Handy in St Louis Blues; Sinatra as Frankie ...

Jazz riches

2010-03-02T08:28:51Z

<div><p> I'm still trying to get on with the blasted novel, over which I have been procrastinating for several years now. Though there are occasional exhilarating hours when it proceeds apace, there are others when I sit at my desk, drinking cold coffee and smoking roll-ups, when I conclude that, on balance and all things considered, I'd rather slash my wrists than try to write another bloody word.</p><p> Never believe anyone who says they ...

Neglected talent

2010-03-02T09:05:03Z

<div><p>A couple of years ago, the Ken Burns television documentary Jazz was screened by the BBC. While some aficionados welcomed the ten-part series for bringing an underappreciated art form to the attention of a general audience, others were more scathing in their criticism: that three episodes were given to the 1930s but ...

Conducting: Next stop the jazz Maestro?

2010-02-27T18:37:25Z

<div><p>Duke Ellington and his orchestra... watch out for those subtle finger movements</p><p>As the Guardian's media columns reported yesterday, the BBC2 show Maestro (in which eight celebrities, including former Blur star Alex James, DJ/producer Goldie and TV presenters

The golden age of jazz piano

2010-02-27T18:47:10Z

<div><p>The iconography of jazz usually features smoky images of coolly wasted-looking individuals in natty hats blowing saxophones. But if saxes and trumpets have seemed like the quintessential jazz instruments, it's the piano that has been absolutely central to the development of the music.</p><p>Jazz began in the early years of the 20th century, with the coming-together of several musical strands. A crucial one was the vocal tradition of...

New US postage stamps honor early black cinema

2010-03-04T12:51:43Z

<div id="subtitle">Josephine Baker, Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan on new Black Cinema postage stamps</div><div><p>Josephine Baker looks straight at you with bright eyes and shining smile, fearless and demanding attention.</p><p>The time is...

Stamps honor early black cinema

2010-03-04T12:52:00Z