Date of Birth: April 29, 1899
Date of Death: May 24, 1974 (75)
Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA
Latest News on Duke Ellington:
Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater will present artists including Amanda Green, Ron Carter, Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks, and performers from Broadway musicals including REGENCY GIRLS and CRAZY RICH ASIANS.
Trumpeter and composer Russell Gunn released the second single from his new album, a seven-song project drawing inspiration from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead and recontextualizing it through African American experiences.
The New York Festival of Song opens its season with a concert of songs named for historical figures and literary characters, from Beethoven's Adelaide to the Beatles' Michelle, featuring soprano Christine Taylor Price, mezzo-soprano Megan Moore, and baritone Samuel Kidd.
Tap dance stars Michelle Dorrance, Josette Wiggan, and Hannah Heller will present a jazzy reimagining of THE NUTCRACKER SUITE set to the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn arrangement at The Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York.
Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater will present nightly performances throughout October, featuring The Hot Sardines, Ron Carter, and birthday celebrations for Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk.
Singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega will be honored with the 2026 Phoebe Jacobs Award at the Wonderful World Gala in New York City for her work using music to heal and connect audiences.
'On songs, surrealism, love letters, and discovering what an album was about after I had already made it.' Melissa Errico shares reflections on her new album, I CAN DREAM, CAN'T I?
The Smith Center will present major Broadway productions including PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (October 21–November 1), ELF THE MUSICAL (November 24–29), and OH, MARY! (October 6–11), with tickets on sale now.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will present SOPHISTICATED LADIES, a musical revue celebrating Duke Ellington's jazz legacy, at The Donelly Theatre in Sarasota.
The NEC Jazz Orchestra under conductor Ken Schaphorst will perform Blues and the Abstract Truth, featuring compositions by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and others at Boston's Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre.
Conductor Everett McCorvey leads two concerts celebrating American composers George Gershwin and Duke Ellington as Music Worcester's Artist-in-Residence, featuring the Worcester Chorus, National Chorale, and guest soloists at venues including Hanover Theatre and Mechanics Hall.
Pianist Chengcheng Ma will perform his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall, featuring world and U.S. premieres and works by living composers.
Pianist and composer Noah Kellman will present a multimedia talk examining jazz's evolution from Mozart to contemporary artists, featuring archival images, listening examples, and live demonstrations at Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan.
The Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble will present their 10th annual production of THE TAPCRACKER at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre in Philadelphia. The all-tap reimagining of the holiday classic features a cast of over 40 dancers.
The Fulton is a historic theatre located in the heart of Lancaster City, PA. It is truly a Broadway theatre, inside and out. This article covers its history, the Lancaster community, the Jonathan Groff connection, and their upcoming 2026-27 season.
The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School will host a masterclass, concert, and rhythm section workshop featuring pianist Roger Kellaway, bassist John Goldsby, and drummer Terry Clarke, with selections from their 1986 album In Japan.
SFJAZZ presents internationally celebrated artists and Bay Area favorites throughout October, including vocalist Cyrille Aimée, pianist Hiromi, and five-time Grammy-winning collective Snarky Puppy.
Play On! is a lively retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Conceived by Sheldon Epps (who also directs) and with a book by Cheryl L. West, Play On! transports Shakespeare’s story to Harlem, New York. West’s book skillfully weaves Duke Ellington’s songs into the narrative.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is September 21, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed over the weekend.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater shared a trailer for PLAY ON!, its jazz musical retelling of Twelfth Night set to Duke Ellington's music, opening the company's 40th Anniversary Season.
