1956: A Jazz Jubilee

Featuring the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Jazz At The Philharmonic and more, performed by the 17-piece Pete Long Orchestra.

1956 was an excellent year for jazz with many fantastic albums released – in this concert we’ll be revisiting five of the very best – Ella Fitzgerald‘s Cole Porter Songbook, Count Basie‘s April in Paris and The Atomic Mr Basie, Frank Sinatra and Nelson Riddle‘s magnificent Songs for Swinging Lovers.

Plus Duke Ellington at Newport – his live album that captured the jazz highlight of the year when his orchestra made a dramatic comeback with a stunning performance that featured the extraordinary Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue.

In addition, we’ll give you a taste of Jazz at The Philharmonic, which in the 1950s brought the finest American swing and be-bop stars to the world.

Pete Long directs his big band, Iain Mackenzie sings Sinatra, Georgina Jackson sings Ella, and there are a few extra 1950s surprises along the way.