Trombonist, Sylvan Amphitheater performing for the “Jazz on the Mall” show at the 2007 Duke Ellington Festival.

By Marcus A. Williams

Organizers of the historic Duke Ellington Jazz Festival have compiled a show this year that is promising to cater to all styles and flavors.

The festival is an annual celebration named in honor of musical genius and native Washingtonian Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington.

Year-after-year droves of music lovers come together in Washington, D.C. to share in the city’s rich jazz history.

One of the highlights of the festival is the beautiful of array of over 120 DC based musicians and a host of world-renowned jazz artists who use the event as a platform to perform original pieces as well as to pay homage to legendary jazz greats.
“Our goal was to present as diverse a program as possible, so that we can hit on Latin music, gospel music, straight ahead jazz, funk jazz, just everything,” says the Founder and Executive Producer, Charles Fishman. “It’s a melting pot of styles.”

Looking at the line-up of talents, the programming definitely meets the diverse interests of jazz aficionados and families from the District and cities worldwide with its impressive mix of local, national and international jazz artists.

Presenting a broad range of performances and events at 34 venues throughout the city, from the Kennedy Center the close knit eclectic setting of Blues Alley, the festival has established itself as a premier event on the District’s annual cultural calendar and is rapidly becoming recognized as a world-class jazz festival.

Some of this year’s featured events include the NEA Jazz Masters Concert on October 4th, which will feature the Duke Ellington Orchestra with special guest, Paquito D’Rivera, local sax legends, Buck Hill and George Botts and vocalist Sharon Clark, who will perform separately with her quintet. 

Also, recently announced was the recipient of the 2008 DEJF Lifetime Achievement Award, Jazz Impresario George Wein, which will be presented during the NEA Jazz Masters Concert.

“George Wein is a jazz pianist and a lifelong lover of jazz.  But professionally, he’s been the pivotal force promoting jazz around the world through the festival circuit he created,” says Fishman. “We are proud to honor his enduring legacy.”

 Also being honored is saxophonist Roger “Buck” Hill, a living legend who has been dazzling audiences in the greater Washington area for over 40 years. 

The festival will hold its first concert, “Jazz in the Hoods” at that the nationally-regarded 930 Club.

“This is a great occasion for us as we continue to expand the number of partner venues we have here in Washington, DC,” says Fishman. “The 930 Club is one of the most outstanding clubs in the country, and our concert there with Baltimore’s Fertile Ground, DC’s Chopteeth and the Latin all-star band, La Timbistica, promises to be a highlight of the festival.”

Lastly, we can not forget the event that everyone anticipates, the free “Jazz an Families Fun Day” on the National Mall.

The festival now offers a full weekend of complimentary concerts, story telling and a host of activities for the kids from October 4-5. 

Other featured artists performing at the festival include, Step Afrika, The W.E.S. Group, Origem, Na’Rimbo, Christian McBride and Nasar Abadey Legacy to name a few.

The 2008 Duke Ellington Jazz Festival runs from Oct. 1 – 7, for more details about events and/or locations visit www.dejazzfest.org or call 202-232-3611.