Arnie Somogyi and Mark Edwards: The Ellington Piano Project
Few would imagine that jazz legend Duke Ellington, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, made his final recording in Eastbourne, on the South Coast of England. Yet it was here, at The Congress Theatre, that Ellington delivered his swan song, a live concert immortalised on the 1975 RCA album, The Eastbourne Performance (his last officially-released recording). 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of this landmark, and to celebrate this legacy leading jazz musicians, bassist Arnie Somogyi and pianist Mark Edwards, have recorded a brand-new album, ‘The Ellington Piano Project’, that rekindles Ellington’s spirit and showcases the piano played during that historic concert. Nominated for both BBC Radio and Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Arnie has worked with the likes of NY-based Mingus Big Band, Tom Jones, Charlie Watts and Amy Winehouse, while Mark’s numerous credits include familiar names in both the popular and jazz worlds such as Katie Melua, Aztec Camera, Paul Weller, Ben Castle and Claire Martin, as well as leading his own band the Cloggz. The Ellington Piano Project also features the melodic trumpet of Chris Coull, New York-based Dutch tenor virtuoso Gideon Tazelaar (Wynton Marsalis, Eric Alexander) and rising star Matthew Holmes on drums. With fresh reworkings of classic Ellington compositions placed alongside original music inspired by Ellington’s improvisations on Eastbourne Performance, this promises to be a memorable evening of exceptional quality.
"Having heard the Ellington Piano Project, …I can say that it's one of those rare 'tribute' albums that sheds new and brilliant light on an existing work" Jazzwise; “Somogyi…surely one of the UK’s finest talents” London Jazz News; "Edwards…excellent" Guardian
Photo by Kevin Whitlock