|
contents | jazz | |||||||||||||
| 2nd Duke Ellington Jazz Festival On September 28, 2005, with the support of the Government of the District of Columbia, Congressional resolution HR501 and numerous national and local sponsors, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival debuted in honor of one of the 20th century's most celebrated musical geniuses. This effort to make DC a premier jazz destination and further bolster its reputation as a vibrant arts center continues with the 2nd annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival to be held October 4-8th. Many of the shows are free including the capstone of the festival on Saturday, October 7th, when heavyweight artists Poncho Sanchez; Dr. John; Roy Hargrove; John Scofield, performing the music of Ray Charles, with special guest Mavis Staples; and Nasar Abadey & SuperNova will play on The National Mall. Like the inaugural festival, this year's event presents major artists from around the country, from around the world and also introduces emerging artists. In addition to the grand free jazz showcase on The National Mall, prominent featured locations for festival events include the Lincoln Theatre, The Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art and neighborhood spots like the U Street Corridor's Busboys & Poets, the historic Bohemian Caverns and Twins Jazz Club. I want the fans to realize that jazz happens everywhere in our city and by holding events on U Street, we honor its historic jazz legacy, especially as it relates to Duke, Fishman explains. The 2006 lineup features headline artists: Paquito D'Rivera; Roy Haynes; Randy Weston; Dr. John; John Scofield with special guest Mavis Staples; Poncho Sanchez; Roy Hargrove; Janis Siegel (of Manhattan Transfer); Luciana Souza; Michael Philip Mossman; Stephanie Jordan; Wallace Roney; and Geri Allen. International artists featured include: *Paquito D'Rivera (Cuba) & the United Nation Orchestra; *Poncho Sanchez (Mexican-American); *Eugenio Toussaint (Mexico); *Na'Rimbo (Mexico) *Edmar Castaneda (Colombia); *Diego Urcola (Argentina); Luciana Souza (Brazil); Victor Masondo & Lalela (South Africa); Thembi Mtshali-Jones (South Africa); Gino Sitson & Vocal Deliria (Cameroon); and Eli Degibri Quartet (Israel). [* Special note of October as Hispanic Heritage Month]. More highlights of the 2006 planned events include: Viva Las Americas, a kick-off invitational gala sponsored with Inter-American Development Bank, in celebration of music of the Americas with Paquito D'Rivera; Awarding of the 2nd Duke Ellington Jazz Festival Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Billy Taylor; An NEA Jazz Masters concert with D'Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra and the Roy Haynes Quartet; An International Jazz Showcase events featuring artists from 6 countries; A recreation of the legendary Cotton Club at The Willard Hotel with Avery Brooks & The New Washingtonians (Duke's original band was The Washingtonians), conducted by DC native, Davey Yarborough (head of jazz at Duke Ellington School of Arts), with guests D'Rivera and Roy Hargrove, both Artists-in-Residence for the Festival; Duke Ellington's arrangement of Tchaikovksy's "Nutcracker Suite, " performed by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the first presentation in DC; South Africa Digs Duke, a tribute to Duke Ellington, featuring South African jazz artists Victor Masondo & Lalela with special guest Roy Hargrove and American pianist, Randy Weston. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |