The Classical Duke Ellington at St George's Bristol on Sunday 24th March 2019
Posted on: 21 Mar 2019It's a musical combo you probably wouldn't immediately think of: a fusion of jazz band performing classical repertoire. But here it is, The Classical Duke Ellington, which will be splicing the two genres to fabulous effect at St George's Bristol on Sunday 24th March 2019.
Echoes of Ellington is a big band revered all over the world and they'll put their exemplary jazzy musicianship to the classical test with a programme focusing on Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's inspired re-imaginings of the famous Grieg Peer Gynt Suite and Tchaikovsky's eminently hummable Nutcracker Suite. Both of them were performed in 1960 by Duke's own orchestra.
Also on the roster will be bandleader and arranger Pete Long, who has written a brand new Duke-inspired arrangement of Holst's The Planets (and tell me you don't get a tingling of excitement over the prospect of THAT sonic genre fusion).
It all adds up to a gig that means listening to Echoes of Ellington re-interpret this trilogy of classical standards will be just as thrilling and unforgettable as if you were listening to the original Duke Ellington band itself.
The Classical Duke Ellington is part of the Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival from 22nd -24th March 2019. The jazz/classical combo starts at 5pm and finishes at 7pm. Ticket prices for the concert cost £28, £22 and £18 (including booking fee) and can be snapped up here.
St George's Bristol is located at Great George Street (off Park Street), Bristol, BS1 5RR. Tel. 0117 929 9008