The following live performances from the 2009 Final Concert were recorded at Avery Fisher Hall on May 10, 2009 for the 14th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival. The tracks are listed below in order of performance in MP3 streaming format, playable on Windows Media Player, iTunes, WinAmp, and most other standard media players.

In February 2009, 15 finalist bands were selected from 107 bands across North America who submitted a recording for the Essentially Ellington competition. In March and April 2009, each of these finalist bands received an in-school workshop with a Jazz at Lincoln Center clinician before traveling to New York. These three winners were selected to perform in the Final Concert with Wynton Marsalis and other guest soloists from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. These performances are the culmination of a school year spent studying and performing the music of Duke Ellington and Benny Carter.

For more information on the 14th Annual Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival, including the results of the competition and outstanding soloist awards, please see the press release.

Roosevelt High School, Seattle, WA
Symphony in Riffs (6:23)
Concerto for Cootie, featuring Ryan Kisor and Wynton Marsalis (3:35)

Eau Claire Memorial High School, Eau Claire, WI
Happy-Go-Lucky Local (6:51)
Portrait of Louis Armstrong, featuring Marcus Printup and Wynton Marsalis (3:48)