Music lovers who understand that it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing stream into Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center this Thursday, May 8, 2025 afternoon for a concert of big band jazz presented by the world famous Duke Ellington Orchestra.
Sponsored by the Garden State Arts Foundation, today’s program is the first in a series of six free Spring 2025 musical events which also includes Lucie Arnaz on May 14, Cousin Brucie Presents Tony Orlando and Andy Kim on June 5, the Donna Summer “Forever Donna” tribute along with The Chiclettes on May 28, The Grass Roots and The Buckinghams on June 10, and the Hispanic Culture and Heritage Celebration show starring Los Lobos and Flor de Toloache on June 19.
Inside the PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater, Vice President of the GSAF’s Board of Trustees Ron Gravino welcomes concertgoers to this afternoon’s performance and introduces the crowd to GSAF executive director Cookie Santiago and webmaster Karin Souren. He also thanks the many GSAF volunteers and contributors for their help with today’s event.
Members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra — pianist Robert Redd, bassist Hassan J. J. Shakur, and drummer David F. Gibson, along with saxophonists Jason Marshall, Shelley Paul, Charlie Young, Mark Gross, and Dan Block; trombonists Tyrone Block, Andre Hayward, and Andrae Murchison; and trumpeters Bryan Davis, James Zollar, Ravi Best, and Jon Mark McGowan — take their places on stage and open today’s show with the Orchestra’s signature song,“Take the ‘A’ Train.”
Saxes play the melody, trumpets and trombones counter with harmony lines, Jon Mark McGowan plays a trumpet solo, and the rhythm section bounces along on this swinging big band arrangement directed by saxophonist/conductor Charlie Young.
Young greets the audience and informs them that the Duke Ellington Orchestra is the “longest continuously performing big band in history” — led by Ellington himself from 1923 to 1974; by his son, Mercer Ellington, from 1974 to 1996; and currently by Duke’s grandson, Paul Mercer Ellington.
Pianist Robert Redd opens a swinging rendition of “Satin Doll,” where he plays a twinkling keyboard solo and Hassan J.J. Shakur is featured plucking out the melody of “Pretty Baby” while improvising on the bass. The orchestra follows up with a roaring version of “Harlem Air-Shaft” where James Zoller renders a “wa-wa” plunger mute trumpet solo.
“The Sleeping Lady and the Giant Who Watches Over Her” is a piece Ellington wrote following a tour of Central and South America. Rolling piano leads into a samba-like rhythm where muted trumpets accompany saxes before the entire horn section rings out on this Latin-inspired number.
Following a cascading Robert Redd piano solo, the crowd chuckles when a crow in the outdoor amphitheater loudly caws its approval on the coda.
“Mood Indigo” starts off with mellow piano, brushes on drums, and Andre Hayward on trombone, Ravi Best on trumpet, and Dan Block on clarinet softly playing the melody in harmony. Block demonstrates his range on this lovely ballad as he creates a cascade of notes that curl and swirl from his licorice stick.
“Madness in Great Ones” is an upbeat swing piece from Ellington’s Shakespearean Suite which features Bryan Davis’ shimmering trumpet work and whinnying high notes played off the horn on this number filled with dramatic rhythm breaks.
“The Shepherd (Who Watches Over the Night Flock)” is a slow minor blues tune which features a rhythmic and jazzy Robert Redd piano solo.
After a short intermission, the orchestra returns to perform a swinging interpretation of “In a Mellow Tone” which features Jon Mark McGowan on a brassy trumpet improvisation and Mark Gross featured on a bebop alto sax lead.
Duke’s grandson, Paul Mercer Ellington, takes the stage to greet the crowd, announcing, “I really appreciate all of you guys coming out and spending the afternoon with us, and I’d particularly like to thank Charlie Young and the members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra,” prior to declaring, “We love you guys!”
Mark Gross’s vibrato saxophone winds a melody through the PNC amphitheater on “Prelude to a Kiss” as the horns add gentle harmony lines to this melodic torch song.
The orchestra swings on a fast-paced arrangement of “Perdido” where clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax, and drums are featured on this happy swing tune. Then, the rhythm section and baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall are spotlighted on a small-group arrangement of the sensual ballad, “Sophisticated Lady.”
To end today’s program, orchestra members vocally echo Shelley Paul’s tenor sax on “Cotton Tail” before the entire saxophone section lines up to create a wall of sound that sparks a standing ovation from the crowd on this uptempo swing tune.
The orchestra segues into a reprise of “Satin Doll,” and audience members stand and cheer as Charlie Young exclaims, “Thank you all for coming out; thank you so much!”
To learn more about the Duke Ellington Orchestra, please go to dukeellington.com. For information on additional free Spring 2025 GSAF concerts — including Lucie Arnaz on May 14 at 1:30 pm, Cousin Brucie Presents Tony Orlando and Andy Kim on June 5 at 7:30 pm, Forever Donna and The Chiclettes on May 28 at 1:30 pm, The Grass Roots and The Buckinghams on June 10 at 1:30 pm, and the Hispanic Culture and Heritage Celebration starring Los Lobos and Flor de Toloache on June 19 at 7:30 pm — please click on gsafoundation.org.
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