Duke Ellington & The Harlem Renaissance
The Duke: who is he? Genius interpreter of Big Band Swing
and the Harlem Renaissance moment – melody maker and aficionado of putting on
the Ritz – Sir Duke.
Will we ever know the real Duke Ellington and will we ever
understand the complexity and mystery of his collaboration with the great Billy
Strayhorn.
Here is a life that is graced in so many ways: a loving
supportive family, the ease and confidence of a good education and a desire to
maintain the true style of a Duke.
Here is the leader who created the perfect orchestra building it one
superb player at a time.
The titles tell a story: Lush Life, Take the A Train,
Prelude to a Kiss, It Don't Mean a Thing, Satin Doll…
Join us as we sing the great songs and look at the internal
workings of the music.
The period of Ellington's intense creativity 1924-1930 gives
us a portrait in music of the extraordinary moment we call the Harlem
Renaissance: The Cotton Club, The
Savoy… 142nd street and Lenox Avenue a time when Harlem was the playground of
the rich.
This program is also available for children age 5 through grade 6 in a shorter format. See the School Residency Tab of this blog.
This program is also available for children age 5 through grade 6 in a shorter format. See the School Residency Tab of this blog.
Suggested Readings:
Here is Boston Globe Jazz Critic Bob Blumenthal talking about ways to learn about Jazz- how to listen:
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