Ellis Marsalis will be honored this year at the Fifth Anniversary Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF) in Washington, D.C. The 10-day music festival, which takes place from June 5-15 will award Marsalis with the 2009 DEJF Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s festival theme is “Celebrating New Orleans,” and according to DEJF Founder and Executive Producer Charles Fishman, “We’re very proud to pay homage to New Orleans, the ‘birthplace of jazz’ in our nation’s capital.”
With over 100 performers playing in nearly 50 venues, this is Washington, D.C.’s largest music festival, and the last weekend will feature a two-day, free concert series held on the National Mall. Performers include Buckwheat Zydeco, Rebirth Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, Irma Thomas, Little Freddie King, Nicholas Payton and other artists known for their New Orleans sound.
The grand finale will be a Sunday evening tribute concert for Marsalis held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. On stage will be the legendary pianist and composer himself, along with his sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. Also joining them will be Harry Connick, Jr. and Dr. Billy Taylor.
For more information, visit http://dejazzfest.org/index.cfm.
