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The Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program is unique among educational resources for high school jazz bands in the U.S. and Canada and American schools abroad. Duke Ellington's music is at the very heart of America's 20th-century musical heritage and lies at the core of the rich cannon of jazz music. Jazz at Lincoln Center, committed to instilling a broader understanding of this music, created Essentially Ellington during the 1995-96 school year to make Ellington's music accessible to as many high school musicians as possible and to support the development of their school's music programs.
Each year Jazz at Lincoln Center transcribes, publishes, and distributes Duke Ellington Orchestra charts along with additional educational materials to high school bands in the U.S. and Canada and American schools abroad. These charts are original transcriptions of recordings by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, not simplified arrangements.
In addition, for the first time in the program’s 14-year history, non-Ellington repertoire is being included in the charts sent to schools. The music of Duke Ellington will always be central to EE, but we plan to explore other seminal big band arrangers and composers as well – one each year. This year we’re starting with “The King,” Benny Carter, who revolutionized writing for the saxophone section and whose 60-plus year career culminated in several compositions written for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Beyond providing these charts, Essentially Ellington also supports participating bands throughout the school year. Numerous resources for band directors and students are available at www.jalc.org. Band directors receive monthly newsletters in which band directors correspond with jazz professionals who answer questions about Ellington, his music, and his band, and also offer practical ideas for the high school band room. Students are encouraged to enter an essay contest by writing about an experience they have had with jazz—the first place winner earns the honor of naming a seat in Frederick P. Rose Hall—the new home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Essentially Ellington strives to foster mentoring relationships between students and jazz professionals through email correspondence, various conference presentations, and the festival weekend.
Many bands just receive the charts to add to their music libraries. It's a great way to receive high-quality music at a reasonable price! All bands, however, have the option of submitting recordings of their performances for professional feedback. All entries will be judged in a blind screening process by professional jazz educators/musicians and every submission receives a thorough written assessment and a certificate signed by Wynton Marsalis.
All bands who receive the music are welcome to submit a recording for the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival held annually in New York City at Frederick P. Rose Hall, the home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Fifteen bands are selected at finalists and, to prepare, each finalist band receives an in-school workshop in their community led by a professional musician. Essentially Ellington culminates in a three-day festival in May for the finalist bands. Students, teachers, and musicians from across North America participate in workshops, rehearsals, and performances. The festival concludes with an evening Concert and Awards Ceremony open to the public at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall featuring the three top-placing bands and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in an all-Ellington concert.
Founding leadership support for the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program is provided by The Jack and Susan Rudin Educational and Scholarship Fund. Major support is provided by the Surdna Foundation, The Irene Diamond Fund, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Alfred and Gail Engelberg.
Additional support is provided by the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, The Heckscher Foundation for Children, The Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation, The New York Times Company Foundation, and other generous funders. |
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Jazz at Lincoln Center
Essentially Ellington
33 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023
Email: ee@jalc.org
Phone: (212) 258-9812
Fax: (212) 258-9900
For general inquiries about Jazz at Lincoln Center, please click here.
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