The Feeling of Jazz - Seven workshops exploring improvisation through the music of Duke Ellington

By focusing in on some of the more exploratory works of the Duke, pianist and educator Matt Ratcliffe hopes to illuminate the harmonic, rhythmic and improvisatory aspects of Ellington’s cannon, including albums such as as Money Jungle with Charles Mingus and Max Roach, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, Piano in the Foreground, Far East Suite, Afro Bossa.

Tunes like Pyramid, African Flower, Con-Go, Blues for New Orleans, The Mooch offer so much scope for interpretation, deconstruction and exploration through ensemble playing and improvisation.

Through 7 monthly workshops Matt will build up your knowledge and repertoire of Ellington’s compositional style, individual approach to ensemble playing and use these to create a set of music which will be performed as part of a concert for Derby Jazz.

We would like as many instrumentalists as possible, including brass, reeds and rhythm section, however places are limited so book early.