Duke Ellington News

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 4-10, featuring Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Nick Adams Hosts 'Broadway for Africa!', Joe Alterman Trio, and more!

The Minnesota Orchestra today announced plans for the 2016-17 seasons of three widely varied series: Live at Orchestra Hall, Holiday Concerts, and Jazz in the Target Atrium. Live at Orchestra Hall, a series of popular music, jazz, Broadway classics, movie scores, world music and other genres, is led by Sarah Hicks, principal conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall. She conducts many of the series' concerts, including the Minnesota Orchestra debut of Twin Cities rapper-vocalist Dessa, R&B group Boyz II Men, and screenings of the films Ratatouille and Star Trek (2009), with scores performed live. Assistant Conductor Roderick Cox conducts several programs during the 2016-17 season, including two specially-designed matinee family concerts for audience members of all ages.

Welsh song stylist Iris Williams will make a rare West Coast appearance on Wed., April 13 at 8:30 PM at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood, performing her acclaimed show entitled 'I Wish You Love,' featuring classic American standards by such composers as Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Burton Lane, and others. Music Director Keith Droste will be on piano, with Jeff Stover on bass and Andy Fraga on drums. She will also appear at the Purple Room in Palm Springs on Friday, April 8 at 7:00 PM.

Vocalist Jane Monheit had long thought about recording an Ella tribute. Fitzgerald's beloved songbook albums held “Biblical” importance for her when she was growing up and have never lost their hold on her.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for March 28-April 3, featuring Ben Allison Trio, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, Alicia Olatuja, and more. Scroll down for details!

Every time I attend something in jazz pianist Ronny Whyte's estimable weekly series at the welcoming, modern Saint Peter's Church (619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street), I'm glad I came. The place is airy, peaceful, and sunny with spacious pew and tiered seating. Acoustics are splendid. The audience is respectful. And they have Billy Strayhorn's piano. Yesterday's easy-going hour featured Alex Leonard on piano and vocals (one forgets how fine a vocalist he is), David Kingsnorth on bass, and veteran Al Gafa on guitar.

Frank Sinatra Jr., son of the legendary singer Frank Sinatra, dies of a heart attack on Wednesday at the age of 72. The singer was on tour in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2) continue their residency at City Winery Chicago with a crossover performance of jazz standards.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2016 schedule, featuring: Pharoah Sanders Quartet, Yellowjackets, Showbiz After Hours with Frank DiLella, The Birdland Big Band, Karrin Allyson, The Matt & Brian Show, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Scroll down for details!

Tony, Emmy and two-time Golden Globe-nominee Matthew Morrison will join the Houston Symphony in a spectacular performance of Broadway hits and crooner classics at 8 p.m. March 24-26.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera classic NABUCCO - about Babylonian Jews in exile during Biblical times - will be presented April 6 to 17 at the Center for Jewish History (15 W. 16 St.) in Manhattan, it has been announced by the American Sephardi Federation, which is presenting a trio of Sephardic-themed production for the first time ever this year in its celebration of Sephardic history and culture.  NABUCCO follows the Center's acclaimed adaptation of MERCHANT OF VENICE earlier this year, and will be followed by a revival of OTHELLO in June.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for March 21-27, featuring The Tristano Project, Marcus Miller Allstars, Birdland Jazz Party and more. Scroll down for details!

The Disc Jockey Was A Lady, a new play with music written by, and starring Dolly Ellen Friedman will be presented at the Bruno Walter Auditorium (Lincoln Center Library of the Performing Arts), 40 Lincoln Plaza - Enter on Amsterdam at 65th Street) at 158 West 72nd Street (bet Broadway -Columbus Ave) on Thursday, April 14th at 6:00pm. Admission is Free for this delightful, fun, warm and heart-full show that features songs of the forties from such composers as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Rodgers and Hart and others.  The show also features musical theatre veteran actor Ross Hewitt. It is directed by Alyson Reim and staged by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley. Phil Hall is the Musical director and arranger. 

Due to technical difficulties, a problem with the Trans-Atlantic feed between Lang Hall in New York City and the Drury Lane Theater in the West End, The Ziegfeld Society's THE TILLER GIRLS, which was scheduled for Saturday, March 12th, has been postponed.

Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago's leader in New Art Music led by Stephen Burns, proudly presents "Proclamation! The Black Composer Speaks," a dynamic concert program showcasing the broad spectrum of new art music from the African American perspective at the Promontory Chicago, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave., in one performance only, Friday, April 29, at 7:30 pm.

The Ziegfeld Society of New York City will present their first Trans-Atlantic event, THE TILLER GIRLS OF LONDON, simulcast live between The Drury Lane Theater in London's West End and the stage of Lang Concert Hall in New York City, on Saturday, March 12th.