SAYS THE DUKE (2022)
Released on the anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birthday, April 29th,
this big band version of ‘Says The Duke’ was premiered by The Uncommon Orchestra at Ronnie Scott’s in London in April 2022. It was part of a new, expanded version of ‘On Duke’s Birthday,’ a piece commissioned by festivals in Amiens and Angoulême in 1984 to mark the 10th anniversary of Ellington’s death.

Originally written for and recorded by an 11-piece ensemble, ‘On Duke’s Birthday’ has been adapted and extended over the years. The latest, 23-piece version was premiered at Ronnie Scott’s, London in April 2022. A new addition to the suite was a big band arrangement of ‘Says the Duke’, originally recorded in a 7-piece version during lockdown by the Granite Band. Kate’s lyric is based on quotations from the Duke and Mike’s orchestration is full of Ellingtonian references. There are cameo appearances by the Orchestra’s soloists, notably Alan Wakeman on tenor, Roz Harding on alto, Chris Biscoe alto, Pete Whyman on clarinet, Dominique Pifarely, violin, Frank Schaefer, cello, Marcus Vergette bass, Jesse Molins on guitar and Sam Massey trumpet, with Graham Russell on lead.

The recording was engineered by Miles Ashton, mixed by Matthew North and produced for Westbrook Records by Mike Westbrook,
Matthew North and Chris Topley, courtesy of Ronnie Scott’s Club.