Duke Ellington birthday festival at UCLA April 4 and 5

UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music presents Duke Ellington’s 110th Birthday Anniversary Festival of Music at UCLA Schoenberg Hall

Saturday-Sunday, April 4-5, 2009

WHAT: In celebration of the 110th anniversary of the birth of composer, pianist and bandleader Duke Ellington, one of the most influential figures in jazz and American music, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology will present a series of FREE concerts at Schoenberg Hall.

Saturday, April 4, 2 pm - UCLA Student Jazz Combos. The combos will play Ellingtonia, directed by Kenny Burrell, George Bohanon, Clayton Cameron, Charles Owens, Michele Weir and Charley Harrison;

Saturday, April 4, 7 pm - UCLA Philharmonia, Neal Stulberg, conductor, with special guest, renowned vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. Jens Lindemann, trumpeter and director of a new student brass ensemble, will play Ellington compositions. Ellington’s Music for String Quartet arranged by Paul Chihara will be featured. Solo guest artists: pianist Tom Ranier, vocalist Bill Henderson, percussionist Clayton Cameron, and guitarist and Jazz Studies director, Kenny Burrell.

Sunday, April 5, 1 pm - Southern California premiere of "Queenie Pie", (excerpts) conducted by Marc Bolin, featuring some of UCLA’s finest vocalists and instrumentalists; and "Sacred Music Concert" (excerpts), conducted by Charles Owens and featuring Dwight Trible and Chester Whitmore, with Kalil Wilson, Lauren Michelle and Joseph Buchanan.

Sunday, April 5, 7 pm - UCLA Jazz Orchestra directed by Charley Harrison; UCLA Contemporary Jazz Orchestra directed by Kenny Burrell; UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble directed by Bobby Rodriquez; UCLA Jazz Faculty soloists: Kenny Burrell, Charles Owens, Barbara Morrison, Clayton Cameron, Roberto Miranda and others. Special guests: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ernie Andrews, Dwight Trible, Herb Jeffries, Chester Whitmore and Gerald Wilson.
WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, April 4-5, 2009
WHERE: Schoenberg Hall, UCLA

COST: FREE

PARKING: Campus parking is available for $9 in Lot 2 (enter the campus at Hilgard and Westholme avenues).