JOIN ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BANDS IN JAZZ HISTORY led by Paul Mercer Ellington, grandson of the legendary Duke Ellington, for their only concert this spring. This engagement promises to be high-energy event, invoking the sophistication, style, and infectious swing endemic of the classic Duke Ellington Orchestra.

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington is one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music and is widely considered as one of the twentieth century's best known African American celebrities. As both a composer and a band leader, Ellington's reputation has increased since his death, with thematic repackagings of his signature music often becoming best-sellers. Posthumous recognition of his work include a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Duke Ellington is best remembered for the over 3000 songs that he composed during his lifetime. His best known titles include; "It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing", "Sophisticated Lady", "Mood Indigo", “Solitude", "In a Mellotone", and "Satin Doll". The most amazing part about Ellington was the most creative while he was on the road. It was during this time when he wrote his most famous piece, "Mood Indigo"which brought him world wide fame.

Consider
President Lyndon Johnson presented Duke Ellington with the President’s Gold Medal in 1966.
President Richard M Nixon presented Duke Ellington with the Medal of Freedom in 1969.
Duke Ellington received 13 Grammy Awards.
Duke Ellington received the Pulitzer Prize
Was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1973.
Has a United States Commemorative stamp with his image on it issued in 1986.
Has become the first black American to be prominently featured on a U.S. coin in circulation with the release of a quarter honoring the District of Columbia.

About the Orchestra
Duke Ellington Orchestra was founded in 1923 by late American composer and pianist Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington. Recognized during his life as one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music, Ellington’s reputation has grown since his death, including a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board.

Ellington called his style and sound “American Music” rather than jazz, and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category,” including many of the musicians who served with his orchestra, some of whom were themselves considered among the giants of jazz and remained with Ellington’s orchestra for decades.

While many were noteworthy in their own right, it was Ellington who melded them into one of the best known orchestral units in the history of jazz. He is best remembered for the over 3,000 songs he composed during his lifetime.

He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1966.Duke Ellington was one of the most popular musicians in the twentieth century. Yet, music experts and critics say he was much more important as a song writer and orchestra leader than as a piano player. Billy Strayhorn once said, "Duke plays piano. But his real instrument is the orchestra. " Duke Ellington and his orchestra played around the world before millions of people. More than eight hundred musicians played with the Ellington orchestra at one time or another.

Paul Mercer Ellington,Bandleader
Ellington’s son Mercer Ellington took over the band until his death from cancer in 1996. Paul Ellington, Mercer’s youngest son, took over the orchestra from there, and after his mother’s death he took over the estates of Duke and Mercer Ellington.Paul Mercer Ellington is currently the Conductor and Bandleader for the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He is also a noted songwriter and producer. He has a degree in Filmmaking from the Vancouver Film School which he completed in February of 2006. He has worked on movies since his graduation while still coming on the road with the band. In addition he has received a scholarship to attend The Vancouver Film School for writing for Film, TV & Interactive Media in 2007.

Initially Paul had difficulty convincing the band that he was the right man for the job. But he debuted his first composition for the Big Band at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, and he received a huge ovation from the audience. Since then there have been some changes made to the Duke Ellington Orchestra: Paul Mercer Ellington is now the Conductor and Bandleader.

Barrie Lee Hall Junior, Conductor
I was born June 30, 1949 in Mansfield, Louisiana. My parents names are Barrie Lee Hall and Artrice B. Whittaker.
My interest in jazz got started in high school where I was in the school's big band under the direction of Sammy D. Harris whose insight pointed a few of us in the direction of jazz. I studied music with trumpet being my principal instrument and piano second at Texas Southern University and after winning a few soloist awards in national big band college jazz festival competitions around the country, Duke Ellington came to Houston. Arnett Cobb, a jazz legend, call to ask me if I would take him to see Duke and in the process I would get a chance to meet Duke. Arnett introduces me as, "This is Barrie Lee Hall a trumpeter in the Texas Southern University Jazz Ensemble ". And Duke's reply was, " Ah, how come you're not playing in my band?" After waiting and calling around the US, I joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra June 8, 1973. I am at the present still a member of that organization.

Mercer Ellington died February 8, 1996. Barrie Lee Hall Junior conducted the Duke Ellington Orchestra for one year after and he is the director of the orchestra sometimes in Paul Mercer Ellington’s stead.

Barrie was the music director at Liberty Baptist Church in Houston, Texas for five years. He has extensive background in gospel music both contemporary and traditional gospel. Of the contemporary projects that Barrie has performed is Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert. On March 16, 2001, Barrie performed Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert as bandleader of the Duke Ellington Orchestra with a two hundred-voice choir.
For the last six years Barrie has been going to Switzerland every April where he is a guest soloist with a big band that is made up of top musicians from all over the United States. This year he was the conductor of the youth orchestra.

Quotes by Duke Ellington
Roaming through the jungle of 'oohs' and 'ahs', searching for a more agreeable noise, I live a life of primitivity with the mind of a child and an unquenchable thirst for sharps and flats.

By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with.

Jazz today, as always in the past, is a matter of thoughtful creation, not mere unaided instinct.

There are two kinds of music, the good kind and the other kind.

A problem is a chance for you to do your best.

Lovers have come and gone, but my mistress stays. She is beautiful and gentle. She waits on me hand and foot. She is a swinger. She has grace. To hear her speak, you can't believe your ears. She is ten thousand years old. She is as modern as tomorrow, a brand new woman every day, and as endless as time mathematics. Living with her is a labyrinth of ramifications. I look forward to her every gesture. Music is my mistress, and she plays second fiddle to no one.