Duke Ellington News

Ballads reign on Moment To Moment on the extraordinarily self-possessed new album by pianist Cava Menzies and trumpeter Nick Phillips. But this recording is much more than just a 'ballads album.'

Ella Fitzgerald's vocal style was as incredible and diverse as the material that she sang. She started out a swing singer, moved to bebop, sang perfect scat, was an extraordinary jazz vocalist and had no fear of modern material as the 60s and 70s came along

'If you hear a song in blue Like a flower crying for the dew That was my heart serenading you My prelude to a kiss'

When the legendary performer Lena Horne told Maurice Hines to 'Love them [the audience], make it real' you can tell he took that advice to heart when conceiving Tappin' Thru Life currently playing at Arena Stage. For Tappin' Thru Life seems determined not only to love the audience, but to entertain them, and it succeeds at doing just that! While Tappin' Thru Life does have some flaws, it's hard to find anyone who isn't won over by Hines showmanship, humor, timing and above all else, talent.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts continues the 2013-14 Jazz series with the AARON DIEHL TRIO featuring Aaron Diehl, piano David Wong, bass • Rodney Green, drums tonight, November 23, 2013, 8:00 p.m.

Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, ArtsBoston and Mayor Tom Menino invite you to kick-start your holiday cheer with some live entertainment as part of your evening commute. Starting promptly at 4:30pm on Friday, November 22, 2013, eight (8) MBTA stations will come alive with concurrent in-station performances lasting no more than 10 minutes by some of city's most popular productions this holiday season.

As New York City bandleader George Gee says, “Swing Makes You Happy” and that's the title of the George Gee Swing Orchestra's Kickstarter campaign to fund a double CD of new music. The campaign runs through December 12th on Kickstarter.com. When their goal is reached the recording process begins in New York and continues until the final CD is ready in May of 2014. Says Gee “The GGSO is making this CD to honor the swingin' BIG BAND sound and its creators, as well as give voice to modern, yet eminently danceable compositions featuring the arrangements and original writing by the band's highly-regarded Music Director and Trombonist David Gibson.” The band aims to record their new music and continue the tradition of swingin' big bands.

David Serero, the internationally-renowned baritone known for his performances on world stages in theater and opera, will make his New York City, Off-Broadway debut this year with a one-night-only holiday concert -- DAVID SERERO: ALL I CARE ABOUT IS LOVE -- on Thursday, December 19 at 8 pm in the Bernstein Theater (1627 Broadway at 50th St.) in New York City.

Rehearsals are now underway as high school singers from five New York City public schools and a community youth choir join together with young instrumentalists from the recently launched Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra (JLCYO) to prepare for an exciting March 2014 concert at Carnegie Hall. The performance is the culmination of a year-long creative learning project spotlighting Duke Ellington's legendary sacred music.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their line-up of impressive talent for December 2-8.

Harlem-born visual artist Regina Marquita Tate's gallery talk for her current exhibit 'Dancing On Paper: With Marquita' took place on Saturday, November 16 at the New York Public Library's Harlem branch.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Managing Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the Tony Award-winning Thomas "Fats" Waller' musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin', February 1 - March 9, 2014, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

The community is invited to enjoy two festive holiday-themed concerts, to be presented by Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Music students in December. Both concerts are free and open to the public, and will take place at Kelsey Theatre, located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

Paper Mill Playhouse will continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! will feature David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from tonight, November 21 through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm.

Bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and piano rock icon Bruce Hornsby form an undeniable duo as they draw from the deep roots of mountain music to rework Hornsby originals as bluegrass songs as well as perform traditional favorites at Mayo Performing Arts Center tonight, November 21, 2013 at 8 pm.

The GRAMMY Foundation (www.grammyfoundation.org) today announced that 123 schools nationwide have been selected as GRAMMY Signature Schools semifinalists (www.grammyintheschools.com) for 2014.

The Palais Royale – South Bend's Premier Event Facility -- is pleased to host its annual New Year's Eve dinner/dance party on Tuesday, December 31, which starts at 7:30 p.m. By popular request, this year's event features the return of The Tom Milo Big Band, an 18-piece big band well-known to dance couples, playing a wide selection of music, ranging from the Glenn Miller tunes of the 40's, to Frank Sinatra, to the contemporary hits of artists such as Billy Joel. Many of the band members have toured with top name musicians such as Stan Kenton, Les Elgart, Duke Ellington, and others. Join us on New Year's Eve for a fine dining experience and the opportunity to ring in the New Year on the area's most historic dance floor. A photographer will be available for optional photos at a nominal cost. Black tie is optional.

An oral history of Chicago's African American theatre and dance communities in the last 40 years is only the third book to explore the long history of Chicago's dynamic theatre scene and the first to focus exclusively on black theatre artists.

More than 50 years after it premiered on the ABC network, the variety shows Here's Edie and The Edie Adams Show (www.edieadams.com) are set for release on DVD and digital formats.

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in "Man With The Bag" presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.