Duke Ellington Center for the Arts To Present Series of MOOD ELLINGTON Programs at Paley Center
By: Julie Musbach Feb. 19, 2017
The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA), founded in 2004 by noted dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, Duke Ellington's granddaughter, will inaugurate its MOOD ELLINGTON series of special programs focusing on the musical legacy of America's most productive composer of the 20th century, at the Paley Center for Media on Fridays, February 24 and March 24, it was announced by DECFA Board Chairman Michael Dinwiddie. The first program in the series will be hosted by Dr. David Schroeder, Chair of NYU Jazz Programs in New York and Paris, and the second program in the series will be hosted by seven-time Grammy nominated percussionist/drummer/bandleader/educator Bobby Sanabria
The inaugural program on February 24, 3:00 to 4:45 PM, hosted by Schroeder, an acclaimed jazz musician, will feature the screening of rare film footage from the Paley Digitized Collection of Duke Ellington's performances from early American television.
There will be a talk back with the audience at the end of the session.
A month later, on Friday, March 24, 3:00 to 4:45 PM, the MOOD ELLINGTON series will present a special screening of Duke Ellington's rarely seen TV special, A Drum Is A Woman, originally recorded for Columbia Records in 1956 and broadcast on CBS-TV's US Steel Hour on May 8, 1957. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who has his roots firmly in the jungle with his drums.
Since its initial broadcast, it has rarely been viewed by the general public. On March 24 at the Paley Center, the public will now be able to see what Downbeat magazine called "the most ambitious project attempted by Duke Ellington in years."It is a capsule history of jazz, it is a history of the Negro in America." The post-screening panel discussion Q & A will be hosted by seven-time Grammy nominated drummer, percussionist, bandleader, educator Bobby Sanabria and will feature Mercedes Ellington and Ellington alumnus and star of A Drum Is A Woman, NEA Jazz Master percussionist Candido Camero.
Space is limited. For reservations, click on the following hyperlink:
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