When the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra plays the music of Duke Ellington at the Byre Theatre in a rare visit to St Andrews, its founder-director, saxophonist Tommy Smith might be forgiven for thinking back to a tour he was on in Switzerland in 1999.
In what was to be a life-changing experience, the Edinburgh-born Smith found himself occupying the chair – at least figuratively speaking – that had been filled in the Ellington orchestra for some 24 years by the legendary tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves.
Homage to the Duke
Not only that, but in this Ellington Legacy Orchestra, organised by Smith’s friend and fellow saxophonist, Fritz Renold, Smith lined up alongside musicians who had actually played with Duke Ellington.
“It was simultaneously quite overwhelming and thrilling to hear these Ellington Orchestra veterans – trombonists Britt Woodman and Buster Cooper among them – play their hearts out every night,” says Smith.
“It was also a joy and honour to hear their recollections of Duke and stories from their days on the road with one of the greatest bands in jazz history.”
Composed for the Queen
Among the music the SNJO will be playing in their In the Spirit of Duke programme are three pieces composed by Ellington in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth.
In 1958, Ellington was introduced to Her Majesty after a concert his orchestra gave in Leeds.
Then at the height of his fame, the pianist was apparently enchanted by the young queen. So much so that he returned to the US and with his co-writer and arranger, Billy Strayhorn, composed a suite of music.
At his own expense, Ellington rehearsed the suite, recorded it and had it pressed on a single gold disc and sent it to Buckingham Palace.
Smith, when receiving his OBE from the Queen in 2019, asked her if she remembered receiving this disc and the Queen confirmed that she did.
“The music wasn’t intended for general consumption, but an album was eventually released in 1976 following Ellington’s death,” says Smith.
“I’m really glad it was because the Queen’s Suite includes some outstanding writing by Ellington and Strayhorn that really needs to be heard and appreciated.”
Single Petal of a Rose
One of the movements that comprise the Queen’s Suite is The Single Petal of a Rose, which has become part of the standard jazz repertoire and was included on the SNJO’s In the Spirit of Duke album, which was released to international acclaim in 2013.
“The album also included Rockin’ in Rhythm and Black and Tan Fantasy and we’ll be playing these in the concert, too,” says Smith. “The great thing about Ellington’s music is that it spanned six decades and maintained its high quality all the way through, up to his death in 1974.”
Not long after Smith was able to ask the Queen about the album Ellington sent to her, he met the-then Prince Charles at a Prince’s Trust event where they got talking about the Queen’s Suite.
“The King, as he is now, remembered the album,” says Smith. “He even offered to have a cassette of it run off for me, but I was able to tell him that it was readily available now.”
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra play the Byre, St Andrews, tonight, Friday, December 2.
