

DUKE ELLINGTON’S BIG BAND
began under the direction of the legendary jazz bandleader and composer Duke Ellington who continued in that role until his death in 1974. His son, Mercer, then grandson, Paul, followed as bandleader. The Grammy Award-winning orchestra performed for over 88 years under the direction of three generations of the same family and has appeared with numerous performers in many venues. Duke Ellington is credited with giving American music its own sound for the first time.
Performed with Maureen McGovern at The Grand – November 1995

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND
At a moment when musical streams are crossing with unprecedented frequency, it’s crucial to remember that throughout its history, New Orleans has been the point at which sounds and cultures from around the world converge, mingle, and resurface, transformed by the Crescent City’s inimitable spirit and joie de vivre. Nowhere is that idea more vividly embodied than in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which has held the torch of New Orleans music aloft for more than 50 years, all the while carrying it forward enthusiastically as a reminder that the history they were founded to preserve is a vibrantly living history.
Performed at The Grand – October 1999
