Essence of Ellington: William Parker's Special Edition

Composer/bassist William Parker has the rare artistic capacity to look forward and backward at once—combining freedom and experimentation with blues feeling and groove, joyful ensemble interplay, and virtuosic improvising. His “Essence of Ellington” project makes its U.S. debut at Stanford, featuring nine shining lights of the jazz world—including veteran Parker collaborators Hamid Drake (drums) and Roy Campbell (trumpet)—in a concert that inventively interprets Ellington standards alongside original… Show more compositions inspired by and dedicated to the Duke.


“When I was 9 years old my father would come home from work and play the Ellington recording Live at Newport 1957 almost every night. My brother and I would dance to this glorious music until we were exhausted . . . There was this feeling of jubilation attached to each rhythm and melody as it moved across space. It was at that time that I heard the Essence of Ellington, the jump, the freedom, all layered in the blues.” —William Parker

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