Ellington by Keys: Three Films from the Archives
April 29, 2006

Jazz composer and musician Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, and died in 1974. Ellington changed the course of American music, and every year on his birthday filmmaker Gary Keys arranges a jazz session and a screening in tribute. This year, the Department of Film and Media hosts Keys’s Ellington tribute with a screening of three films from its archives and a live performance by Victor Jones’s Ellington All Stars.

Organized by Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator, Department of Film and Media.

Mexican Suite. 1980. USA. Directed by Gary Keys. Rare footage of Ellington’s historic 1968 tour of Mexico. 60 min. Preceded by performance by thirteen-year-old jazz pianist.
Saturday, April 29, 3:00. T1

Memories of Duke. 1980. USA. Directed by Gary Keys. With Duke Ellington, Cootie Williams, Russell Procope. Fond reminiscences on the life and art of Ellington, by family, band members, and friends. 85 min. Preceded by performance by thirteen-year-old jazz pianist.  
Saturday, April 29, 4:30. T1

A live performance by Victor Jones's Ellington All Stars, featuring a thirteen-year-old pianist. Followed by An Elegant Ellington Party. 2005. USA. Directed by Gary Keys. Rare footage of Ellington performing works that have never been commercially recorded. 90 min.
Saturday, April 29, 7:00  (introduced by Keys). T1

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