Reflections in Music continues our exploration of classical music with this program devoted to music by the great American composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington, who together with his creative partner Billy Strayhorn created one of the most impressive bodies of work of any composer of the 20th century. 

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The first half of the program will focus on Ellington’s concert music and sacred music, then in the second part of the program we’ll move the chairs to the side and have a dance party!

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The bandleader for this program is legendary trombonist Art Baron, who played in the Ellington Band under Duke himself (and later toured and recorded with such artists as Stevie Wonder, B.B.King, James Taylor, etc.)

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Bring your dancing shoes!

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Artists 

 

About The Duke's Men

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At the age of 23, Art Baron was chosen by Duke Ellington to join his orchestra. He was the last trombonist, and also the last musician, to be chosen by Duke to join the band. 

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During the time Duke was composing his Third Concert of Sacred Music. After each performance, Art would seek out a piano after the performance, transcribe from memory and teach himself how to play these new compositions. Often, it would be the piano from performance Duke had just given.

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Art Baron & The Duke’s Men was formed by Art Baron with members of the Ellington band in the aftermath of Duke’s death as a way to contribute to keeping Ellington’s musical vision alive. 

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For this Reflections on Ellington concert, Art has worked together with Reflections artistic director Bruce Wolosoff to create an interesting and dynamic program of pieces which display some of the range of Ellington’s work.

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Art Baron

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Arthur Baron, a trombonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. His defining work was

with Duke Ellington, where he toured and recorded from 1973 – 1974. He also continued

performing with Mercer Ellington. Art was a member of the hit Ellington Broadway show,

SOPHISTICATED LADIES.

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He has performed and recorded with Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, BB King, Cab

Calloway, and Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions Band, and countless more.

Art was featured nightly as a large solo presence in the Broadway Hit, AFTER MIDNIGHT,

bringing his Ellington expertise to the production.

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He continues to lead The Duke's Men, a small ensemble featuring the music of Duke

Ellington.

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Bill Crow

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During a long career as a bassist, Bill Crow has played with the big bands of Claude Thornhill, Ralph Flanagan, Louis Bellson, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, and even one concert with Duke Ellington. He was featured with many small jazz groups including the Stan Getz Quintet, the Terry Gibbs Quartet, the Marian McPartland Trio, the Gerry Mulligan Sextet and Quartets, the Ruby Braff Quintet, the Eddie Condon House Band, the Marty Napoleon Trio and Quartet, the Gene DiNovi Trio, Jay and Kai, the Al Cohn and Zoot Sims Quintet, the Bob Brookmeyer and Clark Terry Quintet, the Walter Norris Trio, the Carmen Leggio Quartet, and several small groups of his own. Crow has also played many Broadway shows, doubling on bass and tuba, including the long runs "The King and I" and "42nd Street." He is currently a free-lancer in the New York area jazz field. He is also the author of two books on jazz, “Jazz Anecdotes” and “From Birdland to Broadway,” both published by Oxford University Press.

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Carl Miraghi

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Baritone saxophonist Carl Maraghi moved to New York City from Montreal to study at the Juilliard

School. He performed at The White House twice for two different Presidents. He is part of the

two-time Grammy winning Christian McBride Big Band. He performed and toured with Wynton

Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He recorded and performed with the Grammy

nominated Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society and bass master Rufus Reed’s Grammy

nominated large ensemble. He also performed with Harry Connick Jr., Kurt Elling and trumpet icon

Doc Severinsen, just to name a few. Carl Maraghi recorded with Alicia Keys, played with Bruce

Springsteen, as well as Stewart Copeland, drummer of The Police. He has been involved in a

number of Broadway shows, and has been a woodwind instrument teacher at NJPAC, Fordham

University and Stony Brook University. He composes for and leads different projects including his

own quartet/quintet/sextet, sax ensemble, nonet and film scores. Carl Maraghi plays on wooden

Frederic Lebayle mouthpieces on all saxophones, D’Addario clarinet mouthpiece, and uses

D’Addario reeds exclusively.

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John Cooksey

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John Cooksey, Drummer- writer- producer. Harlem born Musician who has played with artist Ashford and Simpson, Noel Pointer, Phillis Hyman, Roy Ayers, Micheal Urbaniack, Joey Morant, Ray Shinnery, Carlos Garnett and countless of other vocalist and musicians, just to name a few. He has recorded with the likes of Talking heads, Eddie Kendricks, the Sal soul orchestra, Herbie Mann, Art Webb and Patrick Adams to name some. He is currently playing all around the New York area with Nathan Lucas's All stars and with Kenny Brawner and his Ray On My Mind review who will be at the Hard Rock Cafe in Atlantic City on the 22nd of this month. He is also playing with Al Volmer's Harlem Jazz and Blues band who has toured all over Europe and Japan. Now he is working with and looking forward to working with Art Baron's Unit.

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Lafayette Harris

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Pianist Lafayette performs and records with saxophonist Houston Person. He has toured with

some of the greats including Max Roach, Donald Byrd, Archie Shepp.

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He mentored vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and had his original composition recorded by her.

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Harris enjoys working as a musician by teaching, composing and performing.

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He has released 9 CDs Including, “You Can’t Lose with the Blues” which was #1 on Jazz Radio in

February 2020 and stayed in the top 10 for most of 2020. His next release: “Swinging Up In

Harlem” is slated for release later this year..

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Mark Gross

 

Two-Time Grammy® Award Winner Mark Gross has appeared on over 40 notable jazz recordings. Aside from performing globally with the Mark Gross Quartet, he's toured the world for over 25 years with everyone ranging Delfeayo Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and Nat Adderley to Dave Holland, Mr. Jimmy Heath and Duke Ellington Orchestra to name a few. Stateside, his Broadway efforts have been impactful for decades, having recently served as the lead reed player for the Tony Award-winning "Ain't Too Proud" play.

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Mark credits his prolific sound to the rich appreciation for Gospel music that resounded through his parent's Baltimore home. After developing his interests in classical music at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Mark sharpened his axe at the world-renowned Berklee College of Music, before embarking on his life-long journey through Jazz. Revered and studied by many, Mark delivers both a flavor and powerful sound to a genre dense with talent, to the extent that even his most accomplished colleagues, regard him as an influence, covering many generations. 

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Mark Hynes

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MARK HYNES is a hard hitting tenor player who harkens back to the days of the ‘tough’

and swingin’ players, always from his heart and soul. Close your eyes and you can imagine

the likes of Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, among many others. His list of credits

include Quincy Jones, Jon Hendricks, and Marcus Belgrave to name a few.

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Tina Fabrique

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Tina Fabrique is a Broadway actress and has performed with The Duke Ellington Orchestra led by Mercer Ellington.
Other credits include:

Broadway: Gospel at Colonus:
Dessa Rose: How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,
Once on This Island, and Bring In Da Noise
Tina is the voice of the READING RAINBOW TV show.