Lecture Date: February 13, 2015
No one led a life, led a band, or made music like Duke Ellington. He was one of a kind—beyond category. Based on his acclaimed biography, Hasse introduces the moving and inspiring story of Duke Ellington, who overcame racial, social, and musical obstacles to become one of the 20th century’s greatest musicians. You’ll learn about his boyhood in Washington, DC, his breakthrough at Harlem’s Cotton Club, the way he personalized his compositions for the individual gifts of his players, and his sharp disappointment about being rejected for a Pulitzer Prize. You’ll hear excerpts from his famous recordings such as Mood Indigo and Take the “A” Train and his Sacred Concerts. Illustrated with compelling audio and video clips.
Lecture Photos
Speaker: John Hasse
John Edward Hasse is a museum curator, author, and lecturer. For the last 30 years, he has served as Curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, where he curated six exhibition on Duke Ellington, and founded the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and Jazz Appreciation Month, now celebrated in all 50 states and in 40 countries. He also serves as Chairman of Smithsonian Music. He is the author of Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington, co-author of Discover Jazz, and the co-producer/co-author of the Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology. He earned a B.A. Cum Laude from Carleton College and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Indiana University. He has been honored with an honorary doctorate and two Grammy Award nominations. A contributor to The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Hasse has lectured for the US State Department in 15 countries.