Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies

The musical legacy of The Duke is celebrated in this stylish and brassy retrospective, which has taken audiences and critics by storm. Act 1 takes us from Ellington’s early days at The Cotton Club through his widening acceptance abroad, while Act 2 explores the private man as captured in his music. Numbers include “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” “Satin Doll,” and the haunting “In a Sentimental Mood.” It’s a high-stepping salute inspired by the glamorous nightlife and sensuous highlife of a man who lived to love.