Spanning a remarkable five-decade career, Duke Ellington’s legacy extends far beyond his role as a bandleader.

He was a prolific composer, creating nearly two thousand works, many of which have become timeless standards. In addition to his musical achievements, he wrote film scores and stage musicals, released numerous acclaimed recordings, and toured internationally. Ellington himself preferred the term “American Music” to describe his output, reflecting the depth and breadth of his influence.

Ellington appeared on screen with his orchestra in several films, and his music has long been a favourite in cinema. His score for Anatomy of a Murder earned him three Grammy Awards, and his subsequent work on Paris Blues — a quintessential jazz film starring Paul Newman and Sidney Poitier—was nominated for an Academy Award.
 

To this day, his compositions continue to enrich the soundtracks of major motion pictures. Ellington’s music has featured in Mobsters, Murder on the Orient Express, Eyes Wide Shut, Saving Private Ryan, The Matrix, and Seven Years in Tibet, among many others.

Even after his death on 24 May 1974, Ellington’s musical spirit endured. His son, Mercer Ellington—himself a gifted trumpeter and composer of hits like Things Ain’t What They Used to Be—took over the orchestra, preserving and evolving his father’s legacy.

Today, although both Duke and Mercer have passed, the Duke Ellington Orchestra continues to perform with the same brilliance, vitality, and authenticity that have defined its sound for over a century. Its current members are exceptional musicians who honour Ellington’s artistic vision while infusing each performance with their own creative energy.

Tenor saxophonist Shelley Paul, a member of the present-day ensemble, expresses deep reverence for the band’s enduring legacy:  “As time goes on, I continually realise that I’m part of something bigger than I can fully comprehend. The way this band has influenced not only American society but the world inspires me to become better,” said Paul.

Saturday, July 19, 2025, 8:00 PM
(Rain date: July 20)

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Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre