A jazz quartet will be gathering starting this weekend to play music outside Duke Ellington’s former home at 106th Street and Riverside Drive and 106th Street (also known as Duke Ellington Boulevard).
Saxophonists and clarinetists Peter and Will Anderson will be joined by Joe Boga on trumpet and Alex Raderman on drums.
The concerts will take place on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. and they’re free.
“We’ll be playing classic American repertoire from the songbooks of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and more!” they say.
This is a Giant Step on the A Train to get back in that Mood Indigo. Cus it Don’t Mean a Thing, if It Ain’t Got That Swing.
The Andersons are great talented local people worthy of support.
Have seen them several times at the Thalia. And other venues.
Great news, thanks WSR!
At last ! Happy Spring!
River House, the Beaux-Arts mansion at 106th St & RSD, was not Duke Ellington’s home. He lived a few doors down at 333 RSD. His sister, Ruth, who ran his music publishing company, lived next door at 334 RSD. Daniel Wakin’s book, The Man with the Sawed-Off Leg, recounts the fascinating history of this picturesque block.
Billy Strayhorn, who lived in Ellington’s shadow as his musical alter-ego, was for many years a genuine resident of what is now Duke Ellington Boulevard at 15 West 106 St. He spent his final years at the Master Building, 310 RSD. Many of the songs that most people think of as Ellington’s were actually composed by Strayhorn, most famously the Ellington band’s signature Take the A Train,
How about a boulevard for Billy?
FYI- these concerts have been going on all winter…
Are these legal without a permit? Four hours per weekend is a bit much for locals who live nearby
Us locals are grateful for the music! Thank goodness that the Anderson brothers, plus Joe and Alex, are willing to brave the cold temperatures to share their music with us! The world needs more music!
Bravo! See you there!.