A Tribute to Ellington and Strayhorn

About

Sunday 2 July 2023 

Venue: Peggy's Skylight 

Time: 

Dining from 12pm
Performance 1-3pm (with interval)

Tickets: £10

A Tribute to Duke Ellington and Strayhorn...Playing some of the duo's most popular work including Satin Doll, Day Dream & Isfahan.

William (Billy) Thomas Strayhorn was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include Take The A Train, Chelsea Bridge, A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing and the divine Lush Life.

Strayhorn's relationship with Ellington was always difficult to pin down: Strayhorn was a gifted composer and arranger who seemed to flourish in Duke's shadow. Ellington was arguably a father figure and the band was affectionately protective of the diminutive, mild-mannered, unselfish Strayhorn. Ellington may have taken advantage of him but not in the mercenary way in which others had taken advantage of Ellington; instead, he used Strayhorn to complete his thoughts and introduce new musical ideas, while giving him the freedom to write on his own and enjoy at least some of the credit he deserved.

The band will concentrate on some of the most popular of the duo's work including Satin Doll, Day Dream and re-workings from the Far East Suite including Isfahan.

Incidentally, these musical works were part of the inspiration behind Peggy's Co-owner Rachel Foster's culinary masterpieces that makeup Peggy's menu.

Line up Ben Martin – Tenor, Alto and Soprano saxophones and flute Paul Deats – piano Martyn Spencer – double bass
Andrew 'Woody' Wood – drums