Jazz Ensembles present “A Tribute to Duke Ellington”

11/24/2014 11:20 AM

The Bradley University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab Band, under the direction of Dr. Todd Kelly, will present “A Tribute to Duke Ellington” on Saturday, December 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dingeldine Music Center, located at 1417 W. Barker Avenue. Admission is $5 free for students.

The 19-member Jazz Ensemble will perform Ellington’s music, including “Perdido,” “Black and Tan Fantasy,” “Cottontail,” “Limbo Jazz,” and others.

The Jazz Lab Band, also under the direction of Todd Kelly, will perform “Take the A Train, “Fever,” “In the Mood,” and “St. James Infirmary.” They have distinguished themselves as one of the few college big bands in the country to rehearse and perform completely by ear.

The Jazz Ensemble is the flagship group of Bradley’s jazz program. They have brought many world renowned jazz clinicians and soloists to the Bradley campus, including Mike Lee, The Mike Vax Big Band, Matt Wilson, Rachael Lee, Allen Vizzutti, Ron Jones, Tom Garling, Byron Stripling, Chris Vadala, the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio, Michael Davis, Wycliffe Gordon, Mark Colby, and Bobby Shew. Each spring, the Bradley Jazz Festival is held on campus with a guest artist and 14 high school jazz bands. They perform a yearly tribute to a jazz master – past tributes have included Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Frank Sinatra, and “A Tribute to the Golden Age of Swing.” They toured Italy in the summer of 2012, performing in Rome, Perugia, Siena, Cinque Terre, and Vertibo. This summer, they will perform in Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary.

Dr. Todd Kelly, Associate Professor of Music, directs the Bradley Jazz Bands and Jazz Combo, teaches studio trumpet, and serves as the advisor for the Music Business program. He is an artist/clinician for the Conn/Selmer Corporation. He is in demand throughout the Midwest as a soloist and clinician. He recently performed with the National Tours of Wicked, Mary Poppins, Billy Elliot, The Rat Pack is Back, Chicago, and White Christmas.