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.
AGM 2024
Thanks to all who attended our AGM on Saturday the 1st of June in central London, and congratulations to our new Committee!
DESUK TV: Uptown Lockdown
Episodes are available on YouTube.
For more details on how to view and participate, or to make a donation to support the show, are on the Uptown Lockdown page.
Chat to us
We’re chatting online using Discord - join us at https://discord.gg/efQNUMa.
Non-society events
Got a gig coming up with an Ellington element? Pop us an email and we can publicise via our website.
Many of our members are musicians who perform Ellington material:
* Frank Griffith: saxophonist, clarinettist, composer and educator. Find out more at www.frankgriffith.co.uk.
* Quentin Bryar plays for the Louisiana Rhythm Kings. See louisianarhythmkings.co.uk.
Frank Griffith Upcoming Gigs
Date/Time: 7 July, 3-5PM
Venue: Hightown Pub and Kitchen, Alt Road, Hightown, Liverpool, L38 0BA
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio
Info: 0151 929 2492
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 13 July, 8PM
Venue: Zeffirelli’s. Compston Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9AD
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio with Mike Hughes- vibraphone, Tom Sykes piano
Info: www.zeffirellis.com, 01539 433845
Admission: £4
Date/Time: 27 October, 3-5PM
Venue: Hightown Pub and Kitchen, Alt Road, Hightown, Liverpool, L38 0BA
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio
Info: 0151 929 2492
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 1 September, 3-5PM
Venue: Hightown Pub and Kitchen, Alt Road, Hightown, Liverpool, L38 0BA
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio
Info: 0151 929 2492
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 5 November, 8PM
Venue: Morley Green Club. Mobberly Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 SNT
Featuring: Frank Griffith Nonet
Info: 01625 525224
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 22 December, 3-5PM
Venue: Hightown Pub and Kitchen, Alt Road, Hightown, Liverpool, L38 0BA
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio
Info: 0151 929 2492
Admission: Free
Harmony In Harlem
Three concerts to look forward to!
* Ely Sat 15th June 2024
* Harlow Sun 13th October 2024
More details on the website: https://www.harmonyinharlem.co.uk/
Recent posts
Spotted over at Ron Drotos’ wesbsite: The Beginner’s Guide To Duke Ellington. A nice introductory article with some good selections. One to share with Ellington newcomers.
Ron told us:
I got on board the Ellington train in the early 1980s, when I was 17-18 years
old. My piano teacher Billy
Taylor
had known Ellington and Strayhorn and used to make me cassettes of
out-of-print albums of theirs.
There are a few more Ellington-related blog posts on the site, including the surprising similarity between Duke Ellington, Keith Jarrett, and Elton John, as well as guides to playing some of the songs. We look forward to more!
Georgetown University in Washington, DC has issued a call for
papers
for their upcoming conference, running from March 11-15, 2020.
Details of our latest AGM and elections
