AFTER MIDNIGHT-Inspired Duke Ellington Album Hits iTunes Today

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, releases "Duke Ellington: The Original Recordings That Inspired The Broadway Hit After Midnight" today, May 27th on iTunes (iTunes.com/DukeEllington) that other digital retailers. The CD version hits stores June 17th.

This album collects Ellington's original recordings (between 1927 - 1940) beautifully showcased in the 2014 Best Musical Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical sensation After Midnight, all in one place; including popular favorites like "It Don't Mean a Thing", "Stormy Weather" and "Cotton Club Stomp".

After Midnight takes the sexy, smoky glamour of the original Jazz Age and catapults it into a whole new era of heart-pounding, mind-blowing entertainment for modern Broadway audiences. Refracted through a contemporary lens, After Midnight celebrates Duke Ellington's years at the Cotton Club using his original arrangements and performed by a world-class big band of 17 musicians hand-picked by living jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis. The timeless tunes set against a narrative of Langston Hughes poetry provide an authentic backdrop for an array of cutting-edge performances by 25 sensational vocalists and dancers, including special guest stars, whose interpretations shatter everything you think you know about music, nightlife and Broadway.

After Midnight has been nominated for seven 2014 Tony Awards this season, including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Actress of a Musical in a Featured Role, three 2014 Drama Desk Awards, eight 2014 Astaire Award Nominations and is winner of the 2014 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography.

In its heyday, the Cotton Club featured a cavalcade of guest stars each week, known then as "Celebrity Nights." After Midnight reintroduces this exciting tradition by presenting stars of today in limited engagement appearances throughout the musical's run. Grammy Award-winning recording artist Fantasia began the tradition (10/18/13 - 2/9/14), followed by four-time Grammy Award-winning icon k.d. lang (2/11/14 - 3/9/14), Grammy Award-winners Toni Braxton & Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds (3/17/14 - 3/30/14) and multi-platinum recording artist Vanessa Williams (4/11/14 - 5/11/14). Fantasia has returned to After Midnight for a four-week return engagement which started on May 13 and ends on Sunday June 8, 2014, the day of the Tony Awards.

After Midnight features musical direction by Wynton Marsalis, musical supervision by Daryl Waters and direction and choreography by Warren Carlyle. The design team for After Midnight includes prolific design couple Isabel Toledo (costumes) and Ruben Toledo, Tony Award-winners John Lee Beatty (set design) and Howell Binkley (lighting design) and Peter Hylenski (sound).

After Midnight is produced by Scott Sanders Productions, and Wynton Marsalis, in association with Marks-Moore-Turnbull Group; Stephen and Ruth Hendel; Tom Kirdahy.

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