Kent Drake

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts is thrilled to present The Great Reunion: a virtual concert celebrating Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts will commemorate the Duke's 115th birthday with an outdoor ceremony and concert on Sunday, April 27th at 1 PM in front of Duke Ellington's statue at 5th Avenue and 110th street. Additionally Duke Ellington's 115th Birthday Bash, a musical birthday Party and show will be celebrated on Duke's actual birthday two days later (Tuesday, April 29, from 7 to 9 PM) at Ballroom off Fifth on 37th St between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Although the legendary Duke Ellington passed away on May 24, 1974, nearly 40 years ago, his fame and stature continue to grow and blossom. Just this past year alone, After Midnight, a big band musical featuring all-Ellington music in a tribute to Harlem's famous Cotton Club, opened on Broadway and is one of the favorites for winning a TONY Award this year; an SRO audience cheered the hundreds of students who participated in Arranging Ellington, concert of Ellington's sacred music, at Carnegie Hall this past March 23; and the Duke Ellington Center Big Band is finalizing plans for concert tours of France and the US during the upcoming year.

The Rose Nagelberg Theatre at The Baruch Performing Arts Center was SRO for the special presentation of Earl Wilson Jr.'s 'topical, rousing & inspiring new musical' YES!

The first public presentation of Wilson's new show, called YES! THE MUSICAL, will be given a single showcase salon performance on Monday, March 5, at 8 PM -- one year and one day later from the day he started it -- at the Rose Nagelberg Theater at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on 25th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue. The production, with book, music and lyrics by Wilson, is being presented by The Theater at the Duke Ellington Center For The Arts, with Mercedes Ellington as director- choreographer.

The first public presentation of Wilson's new show, called YES! THE MUSICAL, will be given a single showcase salon performance on Monday, March 5, at 8 PM -- one year and one day later from the day he started it -- at the Rose Nagelberg Theater at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on 25th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue. The production, with book, music and lyrics by Wilson, is being presented by The Theater at the Duke Ellington Center For The Arts, with Mercedes Ellington as director- choreographer.

The Triad and Lee Summers presented the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm

The Triad and Lee Summers present the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm.

The Triad and Lee Summers present the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm.

Like the dancers they support who need to warm-up a bit before they hit the stage, the organizers of the October 23 'One World, A Spectacular Global Celebration to Benefit Career Transition For Dancers (CTFD)' got together for a warm up session / cocktail party at the home of Ann and Bill Van Ness