Jazz Exhibit at Norwalk Public Library for Black History Month

Duke Ellington Memorabilia on Display Through February

Jazz lovers will be treated to a special exhibit featuring African American music and the contributions of Duke Ellington and his orchestra to the genre, during Black History Month at the Norwalk Public Library.

Included in the display are photos, books, ephemera, vintage concert posters, and wooden sculptures of various jazz musicians. There are also examples of early sheet music from the 1890’s through the 1920’s, showing the development of African American music from the Cakewalk to Ragtime and the Two-Step March.

An originator of big-band jazz, Duke Ellington was an American composer, pianist and bandleader who composed thousands of scores over his 50-year career. Born Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington in Washington, D.C. at the dawn of the 20^th Century, Ellington later moved to New York City, where, with his big-band sound, he ushered in the Swing Era of music. Ellington’s autograph along with those of his band members and collaborators like Bill Strayhorn, Wilson Myers, Johnny Hodges, Shelton Hemphill and Cat Anderson are also on display.

The items in this exhibit are from the personal collection of Kathleen and Gil Rodriguez, owners of Gilann Books, of Darien, CT.

For further information, please contact Cynde Bloom Lahey, Director of Library Information Services, at (203) 899-2780 ext. 15133, or clahey@norwalkpubliclibrary.org.