‘Making the Rounds with Russ’
Candido, Mercedes Ellington, Bobby Sanabria
Lee Roy Reams
Erin Marie, Michael Choi
Hosted by Mercedes Ellington, the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts held their annual Holiday event at Landmark on the Park on December 8th presenting a multi-culturally talented evening of performers from jazz to cabaret to Broadway.
Backed by Multi-Grammy nominated Bobby Sanabria and his Multiverse Big Band, there were performances by Lee Roy Reams, Steve Ross, Stacy Sullivan, Antoinette Montague, Walter Willison and Larry Marshall, singers accompanied by Eugene Gwozdz on piano. There were dance presentations from ballroom dance champs Michael Choi and Erin Marie and tap dancers Evan Ruggiero, Alex Cowings and Karen Callaway Williams.
Competition Winners with Mercedes
During a VIP Reception, the winners of the First Annual Duke Ellington Center Vocal Competition – Charles Turner, Kathryn Holtcamp, Noel Wippler – showed why they were selected. Other performers included Erikka Bolding (E. Rose), Dee Donasco, Judi Mark.
A Tribute was made to NEA Jazz Master, Candido Camero. The evening’s concert included Bobby Sanabria and his Big Band with ‘Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite for Ellington’ and The Duke’s ‘Nutcracker Suite.’
Photos by: Russ Weatherford (click on all photos to enlarge)
