NORFOLK, Va. — A newly formed group of the area's best musicians is paying tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington in honor of his 125th birthday.
“Someone once said, if humans experienced it, Duke Ellington put it to music,” said Todd Stoll, Vice President of Education at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.
On Saturday, May 18, the ensemble of artists will take to the stage at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk, the same place Ellington played nearly 100 years ago.
“This is the Apollo of the South,” said Stoll. “It’s a very significant theater and place.”
They call themselves the Attucks Jazz Orchestra, and Stoll leads the group presenting the music of the person he considers the greatest technical craftsman of American sound.
“We are still learning about Duke Ellington. His music has only been available in a significant way for 30 years,” said Stoll. “He wrote nearly 2,000 pieces. He was a genius at putting together colors, textures, sounds that were based on the blues.”
13News Now was there for a rehearsal Friday ahead of the one-night performance in honor of Ellington. His transformative ability to compose and play is something the group wants more people to hear and feel.
“Duke also understood something about America and democracy, and that we should all come together,” said Stoll.
On Saturday night the ensemble will carry the weight of Duke’s legacy.
For the rest of us, it’s a trip back in time to experience one of the best to ever do it.