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 - New Date!
We’re planning on having an Annual General Meeting on Saturday the 1st of June,
at the Model Railway Club in central London. Please note the new date. More
details closer to the time. Please come along and get involved if you can -
it’s fun, honest! If you want to be involved, or join the committee, but can’t
attend, please get in touch with us anyway. We’ll sort something out.
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.
New: North West Duke Ellington Orchestra
The first gig by a new big band playing only Ellington/Strayhorn.
25th March at 8pm. /
Christ The King Parish Centre /
Score Lane, Liverpool L16 6AW /
Free Entry.
Frank Griffith Upcoming Gigs
Please check www.frankgriffith.co.uk in case these details change.
Date/Time: 3 March, 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 March, 9.30PM
Venue: Frederiks Bar, 32 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BX
Featuring: Frank Griffith Nonet
Info: www.frederikshopestreet.com
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 1 April, 4PM
Venue: Nantwich Festival. Crown Hotel, Nantwich High Street, CW5 SAS
Featuring: Frank Griffith Trio with Richard Wetherall piano, Johnny Mac, bass
Info: www.nantwichjazz.com
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 12 April, 7.30PM
Venue: The Gallery. 455 Smithdown Road, L15 3JL
Featuring: Frank Griffith and Poetrio. Mike Hughes, drums, Ben Parkinson, Keys. Jazz amongst the Poets
Info: www.smithdownsocial.co.uk
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 26 April, 7.30PM
Venue: The Gallery. 455 Smithdown Road, L15 3JL
Featuring: Frank Griffith and Poetrio. Mike Hughes, drums, Ben Parkinson, Keys. Jazz amongst the Poets
Info: www.smithdownsocial.co.uk
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 10 May, 7.30PM
Venue: The Gallery. 455 Smithdown Road, L15 3JL
Featuring: Frank Griffith and Poetrio. Mike Hughes, drums, Ben Parkinson, Keys. Jazz amongst the Poets
Info: www.smithdownsocial.co.uk
Admission: Free
Date/Time: 12 May, 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: 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!
* Cambridge Saturday 23rd March
* Ely Sat 15th June 2024
* Harlow Sun 13th October 2024
More details on the website: https://www.harmonyinharlem.co.uk/
Recent posts
Our much-delayed Annual General Meeting 2021 took place at the Model Railway Club, London, on Saturday the 16th of October. There was unfortunately no AGM in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Congratulations to our newly-elected committee, consisting of:
- Chairman: Michael Coates
- Vice-Chairman: Antony Pepper
- Secretary: Charlie Dyson
- Treasurer: Grant Elliot
- Membership Secretary: Michael Coates
- Meetings Organiser: Antony Pepper
- Archive Officer: Pedro Cravinho
- Artistic/Academic Adviser: Frank Griffith
- Blue Light Editor: Gareth Evans
- George Duncan
- Quentin Bryar
- Roger Boyes
We’re all particularly delighted to see Gareth Evans take over the reins as editor of Blue Light.
Post-meeting entertainment
After the formalities, members were entertained by the Frank Griffith Trio with Frank on tenor sax and clarinet, Colin Oxley guitar and Dave Green on bass. Jazz Journal’s Leon Nock was there and you can read his review here.