“10 by Duke” – An Exploration of Duke Ellington’s Music

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 at 7:30pm
The Berkshire Museum

Matt DeChamplain Trio, with vocalist Atla DeChamplain

Fifty years after his passing, Duke Ellington is universally acknowledged as America's most prolific composer…of any type of music. We celebrate his 125th birthday this year, illustrating his legacy by presenting some (10, to be precise) of his most renowned and familiar works. It’s all part of Pittsfield's annual 10x10 Upstreet Winter Arts Festival.

The artists for this Ellington anthology are The Hot Club of New England, a quintet headed by Matt and Atla DeChamplain. Matt is a virtuoso pianist and Ellington interpreter, with a range that spans from delicate and intimate to energetic and powerful. He is joined by his wife, vocalist Atla DeChamplain, returning to our stage for the first time since before Covid came onto the scene. Together and individually, Matt and Atla have entertained our audiences over several programs.

“10 By Duke” stands out as another example of how great a composer Ellington was, and how adaptable his music is, in this case reimagined through the lens of the French Jazz Manouche style, a la Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli. Matt will be playing on the Steinway at the Berkshire Museum (39 South St., Pittsfield), one of our favorite venues. With accessible pricing, only $25 in advance, tickets will go fast. The online box office is open now, or you can purchase tickets in person during Berkshire Museum operating hours.

Don’t miss out. See you there.