Duke Ellington‘s Cotton Club Parade, opens November 18 at New York City Center. Cotton Club Parade is a celebration of Ellington’s years at the famed Harlem nightclub in the 1920s and early ’30s, when the joint was jumping with revues featuring big bands, swing and blues, dancers, singers and novelty acts.
The Cotton Club Parade re-imagines one of the world famous Cotton Club floor shows. It will feature the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, who also serves as music director.
Jimmy McHugh, who was the Cotton Club’s musical director, discovered Ellington at a small New Jersey club. He was responsible for booking Duke and his Band into the famed nightspot for a two-week engagement, which turned into a four-year residency at the Club.
Legendary performers such as the Nicholas Brothers, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Snake Hips Tucker, Peg Leg Bates and a 16-year old Lena Horne all performed at the Cotton Club.
As in the original revues, Cotton Club Parade will feature singers, dancers and variety acts, and songs by the greatest jazz composers of the time, including Jimmy McHugh (I Can’t Give You Anything But Love and Diga Diga Doo).
Cotton Club Parade will run for six performances only November 18-22, 2011
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