Welcome to DESUK

The Duke Ellington Society UK’s purpose is to further the study, appreciation and dissemination of the music of Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington.

We meet regularly in London to listen and socialise, and new arrivals are always welcome.

Our house publication Blue Light is released quarterly. The content is wide ranging and we are fortunate to have amongst our members jazz authors, journalists and critics, and equally fortunate to have many enthusiastic members who, because of their own deep interest, have become expert in particular niches of Ellingtonia.

DESUK Live Broadcast: Uptown Lockdown

We’re doing live broadcasts on Wednesday afternoons, 17:00 London time. We will be discussing matters Ellington and Strayhorn, playing tracks as well as a bit of live versions of their music.

Link to view the broadcasts: https://www.pscp.tv/AP64740207/. You can join us live or watch them afterwards at the same address.

We also have a public Discord chatroom which might be useful in the event of any difficulties, or if you just fancy some Ducal chat: https://discord.gg/efQNUMa

2020 AGM

The DESUK Annual General Meeting had been scheduled for Saturday, 2 May 2020. In view of the current health uncertainty this meeting will not take place, nor can we give any indication of an alternative time.

As selection of a new Committee would normally have taken place at the AGM, all current committee members have indicated their willingness to continue in office until such time as normal business can be resumed, In this way we anticipate that DESUK features such as Blue Light can appear in the normal manner.

Please refer to the DESUK website for current information.

— Mike Coates, DESUK Chairman

Non-society events

Got a gig coming up with an Ellington element? Pop us an email and we can publicise via our website.

Frank’s gigs

Our own Frank Griffith has numerous upcoming gigs, often with an Ellingtonian twist.

Date: 31 May 2020
Location: The Railway Pub, 74 Wellington Road, Stockport, SK4 1HF
Time: 9PM
Featuring: Frank Griffith Quartet
More information: 0161 477 3680
Free

Date: 16 June 2020
Location: Wilmslow Conservative Club.15 Grove Avenue, Wilmslow, SK9 5EG
Time: 8.30PM
Featuring: The Frank Griffith Quartet
More information: 01625 528336
Admission: £8

Date: 18 July June 2020
Location: Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport, DT6 3NR
Time: 8.00PM
Featuring: The Frank Griffith Quartet with Guy Gardner, Stu Barker and Matt Skelton, with guest vocalist, Rachel More. Performing the music of Burt Bacharach.
More information: 01308 427183 www.bridport-arts.com
Admission £13

Date/Time: September 8, 2020. 8.30PM
Location: Wilmslow Conservative Club. 15 Grove, Wilmslow, SK9 5EG
Featuring: Frank Griffith Nonet 01625 528336
Admission: £8

Date: 2 October 2020
Location: Sefton Park Cricket Club, L17 1AA
Time: 8PM
Featuring: The Frank Griffith Nonet

More on Frank’s website.

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