Beyond Category: The Concert Music of Duke Ellington

• Ellington Carthan, piano & host
• Felix Contreras, conga
• Angel Gil-Ordóñez, conductor

Duke Ellington — Black Beauty
Duke Ellington — Black, Brown, and Beige Suite
Duke Ellington — Anatomy of a Murder (selections)
Duke Ellington — "The Single Petal of a Rose" from The Queen's Suite
Duke Ellington — Suite from The River
Duke Ellington — Where's the Music? (arr. Scott Silbert)
Duke Ellington — Caravan (arr. Scott Silbert)

With a career that spanned 50 years, DC-native and American icon, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, is known around the world for such jazz standards as Mood Indigo, Solitude, and his band’s signature tune Take the "A" Train composed by collaborator Billy Strayhorn. But, Ellington sought to break out of stereotyped boxes and to explore broader creative horizons. His masterworks include scores for ballet, opera, motion pictures, and Broadway musicals as well as for symphony orchestras. This spring we are joined by jazz pianist Ellington Carthan to journey through the music of Ellington’s extraordinary yet little-known concert pieces, including his magnificent Black, Brown, and Beige, the suite from the ballet The River, and the debut of Scott Silbert’s orchestration of Caravan featuring guest conguero Felix Contreras.

About PostClassical Ensemble

Under the leadership of Music Director Ángel Gil-Ordóñez, PostClassical Ensemble (PCE) takes the listener on a musical journey for the heart and mind. Through depth of interpretation and skillful execution, and with an ensemble of the most distinguished musicians in the area, the music comes alive with vibrancy and richness of expression.

Founded in 2003 by Angel Gil-Ordóñez and music historian Joseph Horowitz, PCE has been a pioneer in transforming the concert experience through innovative programming and with collaborations across artistic mediums. Their humanities-infused programming tells stories— exploring music in its cultural and historical context, and it often integrates theater, dance, film, and visual art, as well as folk, indigenous, and popular music and instruments.

https://www.postclassical.com/

About Ellington Carthan, piano & host

https://ellingtoncarthan.com/

About Felix Contreras, conga

https://www.npr.org/people/4607354/felix-contreras

About Angel Gil-Ordóñez, conductor

https://www.gilordonez.com/