Événement

Jazz Lunch: The Music of Duke Ellington

Normally offered only to groups, a special JAZZ Lunch, open to the public, will be presented Monday, May 1 at 11:00am, at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. A limited number of general seating tickets will be available for advance purchase at $30 each, and will include a delicious box lunch, soft drinks and a 60-minute presentation of the Music of Duke Ellington, Featuring Liz Johnson Schaffer, Joe Freel, Don O. Henry and an NJW trio.

Duke Ellington is one of the icons of American jazz, with a career spanning over 50 years. Though widely considered to have been a pivotal figure in the history of jazz, Ellington embraced the phrase "beyond category" as a liberating principle, and referred to his music as part of the more general category of American Music, rather than to a musical genre such as jazz. As a bandleader he lead one of the finest orchestras in the history of jazz, elevating the music to the status of an art form. As a composer he wrote or co-wrote extended orchestral pieces, sacred music, and countless songs that have become jazz standards.

We celebrate Duke Ellington's music with a lineup that includes vocalists Liz Johnson Schafer, and Joe Freel accompanied by a trio consisting of Lori Mechem (piano), Roger Spencer (bass), and Ralph Henley (drums). The event will also feature narration with an original script about the composer's life written and presented by Don O. Henry.

Jazz Lunch takes place in the Jazz Cave at the Nashville Jazz Workshop. Admission is $30, which includes a delicious box lunch, soft drinks and the 60-minute presentation. Tickets will be available for advance purchase on Monday, April 17 at 10AM. They may be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets, by phone 24/7 at Brown Paper Tickets (800-838-3006), or during daytime business hours at 615-242-5299.

The Nashville Jazz Workshop is a nonprofit organization supporting jazz musicians, jazz fans, and the jazz community through classes, public performances, and special events. For further information, contact the Nashville Jazz Workshop at 615-242-JAZZ (5299). www.nashvillejazz.org.