The first issue of the DESS Bulletin for 2004 was sent to DESS members a couple of days ago.
A good part of it is about Duke Ellington’s upcoming 125th birthday.
It has of course everything about how DESS will celebrate Ellington’s 125th birthday on Monday 29 April 2004.
The celebration will start in the morning as it did in 1939 when Ellington turned 40 but this year it will not be coffee and music at bedside but a full day Ellington mini conference followed by an evening concert.
Six leading international Ellington experts will travel to Stockholm to make presentations about different aspects of Duke Ellington from 9 o’clock in the morning to 5 o’clock in the afternoon.
The speakers and their topics are:
Bjarne Busk: The Stockpile – After 40 years in Denmark
John E. Hasse: Duke Ellington at 125
Michael Kilpatrick: The Magic of the Early 1930s
Marilyn Lester: Duke Ellington’s Broadway
Jean Francois Pitet Duke Ellington and Duke Ellington & Cab Colloway – Musical Connection
Samantha Wright – Duke Ellington and the Clarinet
The conference is free of charge.
There will be a Get-Together-Party for the speakers. the DESS Board and visitors to previous Ellington conferences in Stockholm at
Wallingatan 34 close to the next to Scalateatern
The evening concert is provided by Stockholm Swing All Stars.
It is the leading Swedish swing orchestra with a repertoire including Ellington music. It tours frequently and has issued two Ellington CDs so far.
