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Last year there was a lot of talk about the centenary of America's greatest composer. The problem was, not only did they get the year wrong, they got the composer wrong too. For, as popular as George Gershwin remains, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington is undeniably the single most important figure in American music. Coming of age in an era typified by segregation and vicious racial stereotyping, Ellington was able to produce an extraordinary range of music remarkable for its diversity, innovation and textured sophistication. Few American artists of any field can compete with the legacy he left when he died at the age of 75 in 1974. Now to commemorate this giant, RCA Victor has brought out an extraordinary 24-CD, digitally re-mastered box-set,"The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition." The first discs cover the early years including his fabled Cotton Club band, while others cover the golden period of the 1940s when Ben Webster was in the band and Duke began his collaboration with pianist Billy Strayhorn. There's also his Tanglewood performances and the work he was proudest of, his three "Sacred Concerts." Columbia Records has also gotten into the act, offering a 3-CD commemorative box and issuing re-mastered editions of some of his best-known works, such as the famous "Black, Brown & Beige" suite, his homage to Shakespeare, "Such Sweet Thunder," the soundtrack to the film "Anatomy of a Murder" and "A Drum Is A Woman." Also included is a special edition of perhaps the most famous live concert in jazz history, "Ellington at Newport, '56, Complete." This month sees plenty of concert tributes as well. Trumpet-star Wynton Marsalis will be bringing his Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra to town for a homage as part of the La Villette Jazz Festival on June 26 at 10:30pm. As Marsalis continues to concentrate on composition and conducting, it seems apparent that Ellington has become the major influence in his career. The festival also features French pianist Martial Solal with a 12-man group in another salute on June 27 at 8pm, while Paris resident David Murray's Big Band takes a loving look at the Duke's lesser-known pieces on July 1 at 10:30pm. All-evening passes to the La Villette jazz festival are 175F/140F. The tributes don't stop there. Fifty years ago, on his first visit to Paris, the Duke was welcomed at the train station by Claude Bolling's Big Band. Bolling's outfit will be honoring the Duke in a series of concerts at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Club, June 14-19 at 10:30pm. Admission of 130F includes the first drink. Grammy-award-winning singer and Paris resident Dee Dee Bridgewater did a tribute album to the Duke a couple of years ago, "Prelude to A Kiss," and will be paying homage to the master in a special 9pm concert at the Parc Floral on June 18 with a big band and with her quartet the following day at 4:30pm. Both concerts are free. Perhaps most moving of all will be a special concert given by another Paris resident, and a man who actually played in Duke Ellington's Orchestra, Hal Singer. He'll be playing at the Cave du Franc Pinot June 11-12 at 10pm, 100F admission including first drink. I asked the 80-year-young sax legend what struck him most about Ellington. Singer doesn't hesitate. "His elegance. He was very elegant." For venue information see music events. |
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