Duke Ellington’s legendary jazz orchestra performs his landmark works 

The legendary Duke Ellington Orchestra, founded by and named after one of 20th century’s most prolific American composers, will play some of the late composer and musician’s landmark jazz pieces for Singapore music lovers in a lively 75-minute performance amid the lush greenery of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

One of the most influential figures in jazz, if not all American music, Duke Ellington is widely considered one of the best known African American personalities of the last century. Over a colourful career that spanned more than 50 years till his death at the age of 75 in May 1974, Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both around the world and in America with his innovative compositions that challenged the conventions of his time.

Duke Ellington’s illustrious career included leading his eponymous orchestra, composing an inexhaustible songbook, scoring for movies, composing stage musicals and world tours. In his lifetime, he had played over 20,000 performances in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East as well as Asia!

The Duke Ellington Orchestra has carried on the influential composer’s legacy under the guidance of two successive generations of the Ellington family. Hear them perform live the music of one of the jazz world’s most pivotal figures.

Alemay Fernandez and Nick Zavior will join the orchestra on stage as guest vocalists.