Ellingtonia in Elder Hall

The timeless jazz classics of Duke Ellington underpin this month's Evening Concert Series.

"Elder Ellingtonia" features the Elder School of Music's Big Band I and Honours Jazz Ensemble separately performing such standards as Mood Indigo, Rockin' In Rhythm, It Don't Mean A Thing and Sophisticated Lady on Thursday, October 14 at 8pm in Elder Hall.

The Big Band I, conducted by Hal Hall, will showcase special guest artist Andrew McNaughton on trumpet. McNaughton will appear with the generous support of a Helpmann Academy Grant.

The Honours Jazz Ensemble features guest Master of Music students Mike Bevan and James Brown (guitars) and Derek Pascoe (saxophone).

Also performing Ellington classics will be Dusty Cox and Vashti Tyrell (saxophones) with Andrew McNaughton on trumpet.

It has been 30 years since Ellington died in 1974, leaving behind one of the largest, most inventive and greatest bodies of work of any musical genre in the 20th century. He had received France's highest award, the Legion of Honour, and the United States Government's highest civil honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Elder School of Music's own honouring of Ellington promises to be an outstanding night of jazz - book early to avoid disappointment!

"Elder Ellingtonia" will be held on Thursday, October 14 at 8pm at Elder Hall. Tickets are $25/$17/$10, and are available from BASS on 131 246.