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It's about that time, jazz lovers: The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival is upon us. The event is the District's premier jazz happening, and is now in its fifth iteration. Though its official dates are June 5 to June 15, pianist and local mainstay Allyn Johnson will open the festival on Thursday with a free prelude concert, which will take place at 5 p.m. at The Phillips Collection. This year's festival theme is "Celebrating New Orleans," in tribute to the Crescent City's rich heritage.
"We chose to highlight New Orleans because a) it's the birthplace of jazz, and b) it's still suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina," said Charlie Fishman, the festival's founder and executive producer. "We want to call attention to the wondrous culture of the city."
This year's festival brings with it some changes, most welcome, but some not. This year marks the first time Duke Fest will take place in June, as will all future festivals, as opposed to its usual September time frame. Festival and city organizers were having difficulty locking down weekends in the fall where the festival could take place on an annual basis, a must for an event of this scale. This year's program has also been scaled back because of budget cuts. Losses include events at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the memorable closing concert that was held in honor of Voice of America DJ Willis Conover.
"We've lost close to $200,000 in corporate sponsorships. This is the worst I've ever experienced," said Fishman, a veteran producer and promoter.
Despite these cutbacks, the essence of Duke Fest remains, and its most important elements are still in place. These include two free, day-long concerts on the National Mall that will feature greats such as Terence Blanchard and Irma Thomas. The Jazz in the Hoods lineup integrates the festival into the fabric of the city by holding events not only in the District's clubs, but also in galleries and other non-traditional venues. The Jazz n' Families Fun Days, taking place at The Phillips Collection, are designed to expose young people to jazz and its history. All of these events point toward the broader goals of festival organizers.
"We're trying to create a year-round presence in the city, with a primary emphasis on education," explained Fishman. "That's really where we're throwing our resources."
The ten day program will also include gala events around the city, notably a concert titled Vivre la Nouvelle Orléans, a June 10 show at the French Embassy that will feature the festival's artistic advisor, Paquito D'Rivera. Duke Fest will come to a close with an already sold out concert tribute to the jazz patriarch of New Orleans, Ellis Marsalis, taking place on June 15 at the Kennedy Center.
As Fishman noted proudly, "[People] should just come out and enjoy the music. There’s something there for everyone."
The 5th Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival takes place from June 4 to June 15 at venues across the city. Visit the festival website for detailed scheduling and ticket information.
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