The Aardvark headed north to New Hampshire with a live concert celebrating Duke Ellington on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 7:30 pm, at the Dana Center-Koonz Theater, Saint Anselm College, 100 St Anselm Dr, Manchester, NH 03102.
Continuing its long tradition of Ellington-inspired concerts, the orchestra performed classics like Satin Doll, C Jam Blues, and I’m Beginning to See the Light, as well as selections from the Ellington Sacred Concerts including the lyrical Come Sunday and the joyful It’s Freedom.
Did you know?
Duke Ellington in Aardvark Jazz Orchestra’s History
Aardvark has performed all-Ellington concerts for more than three decades, including an Ellington Centennial on MIT’s mainstage, Kresge Auditorium, in 1999, recorded by WGBH Radio and later released on the Aardvark CD Duke Ellington/ Sacred Music (Aardmuse).
Music director Mark Harvey has transcribed many Ducal works, and has written and lectured about Ellington for 25 years. In 1974, Harvey was an usher at Ellington’s funeral, held at St. John the Divine Cathedral Church in New York City, where Ellington had previously premiered his Second Sacred Concert.
Harvey co-produced an Ellington Sacred Concert at Boston Symphony Hall in 1988, performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington.