Duke Ellington's America
Print version
Tonight’s event will feature a lively discussion between Dr Cohen, author of the soon to be released book ‘Duke Ellington’s America’ (University of Chicago Press, June 2010), and Alyn Shipton, an award-winning author and broadcaster, who is the jazz critic for The Times, and the presenter/ producer of Jazz Library for BBC Radio 3.
Lewis Erenberg, author of ‘Swingin’ the Dream: Big Band Jazz and the Rebirth of American Culture’, refers to‘Duke Ellington’s America’ as: ‘An excellent piece of cultural history, grounded in fantastic sources, including Duke Ellington’s papers and scrapbooks, and interviews with his players and other jazzmen, a treasure trove that future scholars will mine for decades.’
Dr Cohen will explore the life and career of Duke Ellington through rare excerpts of Ellington interviews and concerts from 1943-72. Few artists in any medium have enjoyed the lasting international impact of Duke Ellington and Dr Cohen will discuss why Ellington should be viewed as an important figure in American history, not just American music.
Dr Cohen and Alyn Shipton will be appearing together again on Sunday 2 May at the Playhouse Theatre at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. The Jazz Festival supports the very best of British and international contemporary jazz and this year welcomes Jamie Cullum as its first ever Guest Director.