By Jocelyn Dickey
Local jazz aficiandos are celebrating what would have been Duke Ellington’s 100th birthday this April with a month of concerts and events.
Ellington, who some have called the most significant jazz composer of the 20th century, was born on April 29, 1899. His contributions to jazz music are still felt today, more than 20 years after his death.
“When you listen to his recordings, even in the late ‘20s, he was doing wonderful music with strange sounds and eerie harmonies and to this day we don’t know he did it,” says Ron Sweetman, chair/spokesman of Music Now, and host of In a Mellow Tone, CKCU-FM’s jazz program.
Music Now is an organization set up in 1997 to bring more leading edge, avant-garde and improvisational music to Ottawa. It was responsible for organizing the Chicago Now series of jazz concerts at the Mercury Lounge last November, and is assisting with the organization of Ellington Now.
“We wanted to do more than just concerts,” says Sweetman. As part of Ellington Now “we are having four weekends with four different musical acts, a panel discussion, an online discussion, and a series of radio broadcasts dedicated to Ellington’s music.”
There will also be a photo exhibition at the National Library focusing on Ellington’s connection to Canada and his various concerts in Ottawa and Hull.
“We’re expecting the concerts will be well attended,” says Dean Pallen, head of the Ottawa Ellington Centennial Committee. “Some are almost already soldout.”
The concerts will be held at the After Eight Jazz Cafe and the Empire Grill.
Shawn Dawson, co-owner of the After Eight Jazz Cafe, says it is only natural that his cafe is involved because “it acts as a focus point for the jazz community in Ottawa.” He adds the After Eight is “the only live venue that focuses on jazz 12 months of the year.”
The first weekend’s concerts will feature tenor saxophonist Richard Parris of Montreal and the Richard Paris Quartet. The second weekend will feature one of Montreal’s best known alto saxophonists, Dave Turner, and pianist Jean Beaudet. The third will feature Robert M. Lepage, a Canadian clarinetist well known in the field of improvised music, and bassist Norman Guilbeault who is best known as the leader of his own ensemble. Local group Chelsea Bridge, one of Ottawa’s most prestigious jazz groups, will conclude the concert series.
Dawson says the After Eight expects capacity crowds for all performances and advises people to call ahead to make reservations or purchase advance tickets.
The Ellington committee was set up “to make sure that in Ottawa there is some recognition of (Ellington’s) centennial,” says Pallen.
The committee also wants to organize other events this fall to celebrate Ellington’s centennial. “It would be the second phase,” says Pallen. “We would like people to come out to get current exposure to one of the most important figures in music in the 20th century.”