The Ellington Piano Project Arnie Somogyi & Mark Edwards
Album info
Album-Release:
2025
HRA-Release:
26.09.2025
Album including Album cover Booklet (PDF)
- 1 Prelude 01:52
- 2 Groch 04:54
- 3 Black and Tan Fantasy 06:54
- 4 My Little Brown Book 05:56
- 5 I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good) 07:22
- 6 Love You Madly 04:44
- 7 Interlude 03:56
- 8 Brake! 03:08
- 9 Don't You Know I Care 08:21
- 10 A Little Tickle 04:28
- 11 Creole Love Call 07:03
- 12 Mr GT 06:20
- 13 It Never Really Ends 01:27
Info for The Ellington Piano Project
Few would imagine that jazz legend Duke Ellington, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, made his final recording in Eastbourne, on the South Coast of England. Yet it was here, at The Congress Theatre, that Ellington delivered his swan song, a live concert immortalised on the 1975 RCA album, The Eastbourne Performance. This was to be his last officially-released recording, cementing a poignant chapter in musical history.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of this landmark recording, and to celebrate this legacy leading jazz musicians, bassist Arnie Somogyi and pianist Mark Edwards, have recorded a brand-new album, ‘The Ellington Piano Project’, that rekindles Ellington’s spirit and showcases the piano played during that historic concert.
With fresh reworkings of classic Ellington compositions placed alongside original music inspired by Ellington’s improvisations on Eastbourne Performance, the album spotlights New York-based Dutch tenor virtuoso Gideon Tazelaar and rising star Matthew Holmes on drums, with special guest vocalist Sara Oschlag featured on two tracks.
"Having heard the Ellington Piano Project, ...I can say that it's one of those rare 'tribute' albums that sheds new and brilliant light on an existing work" (Jazzwise)
“Somogyi ...surely one of the UK’s finest talents” (London Jazz News)
"Edwards ...excellent" (Guardian)
Arnie Somogyi, bass, vocals
Mark Edwards, piano, Hammond organ, tuned percussion, banjo, accordion
Gideon Tazelaar, tenor saxophone
Matthew Holmes, drums
Sara Oschlag, vocals
Guests:
Ashley Slater, trombones trumpet
Jon Newey, percussion
Arnie Somogyi
is one of the UK's most in-demand bass players and has played on over 60 albums, including five with his own projects as a leader.
He has recorded, performed and toured with many of the world’s leading jazz musicians including Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Henderson, Steve Grossman, Scott Hamilton, Mal Waldron, Seamus Blake, Sonny Fortune, Arturo Sandoval, Jorge Rossy, Joe Chambers, Rene Marie, James Moody, Joey Calderazzo, Art Farmer, Chris Botti and The Mingus Big Band as well as international stars Tom Jones, Charlie Watts, Amy Winehouse, Richard Ashcroft and Omar.
He has appeared frequently at world-renowned jazz club Ronnie Scott’s, both as a sideman, leader and member of The Ronnie Scott's All-Stars.
His music has featured on radio, television and in the feature films 'The Talented Mr Ripley' and 'An Education', and he has performed around the world in a wide variety of formats.
Arnie is currently involved in a new project, ‘Albuca’, which includes pianist Mark Edwards, saxophonist Ben Castle and drummer Darren Beckett. The band put their own spin and fresh arrangements on jazz standards, established and modern, as well as music, both composed and improvised, drawn from the outer edges of their eclectic influences and experience. They are booked to appear as part of the 2019 EFG London Jazz Festival.
Albuca completed their first tour in the spring of 2019 and recently recorded their debut album in one live room at Echo Zoo Studios, Eastbourne, directly to analogue 2-track tape.
The album, to be released later this year, was produced by legendary guitarist and composer Adrian Utley of iconic Bristol band Portishead. It centres around the Steinway grand piano, rescued from Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre, and played in December 1973 by Duke Ellington on his final recorded concert, ‘The Eastbourne Performance”, released on the RCA label in 1975.
Mark Edwards
“Pianist/programmer/producer/composer/arranger Mark Edwards is, by common consent, a ‘polymath’ musician of the highest standard who has performed and recorded with many elite international artists and musicians from across the musical panorama.” Mark Ede, BiGiAM
Touring the world over the last 10 years as pianist for Katie Melua, Mark’s three decade ‘pop’ resume also includes Paul Weller, Aztec Camera, Roddy Frame and Marc Almond.
Other notable musicians: The Magic Numbers, Jarred Dickinson, Ren Harvieu, Dave Stewart, Chris Rea, Daryl Hall, Samantha Barks, Barry Adamson, Duke Special, Incognito, Terry Callier, Jo Harman, Troy Miller, Adrian Utley (Portishead), Mike Scott, Bruce Forsyth, Roy Castle.
On the Jazz scene, Mark has worked with top U.K. and U.S. names, including Johnny Dankworth, Bobby Wellins, Scott Hamilton and Ken Peplowski. He has performed at such prestigious festivals as Montreux, Montreal, Mount Fuji Japan, Singapore and the North Sea Jazz Festival, and established Jazz venues such as Ronnie Scotts, The Bottom Line New York, and Blue Note Milan.
Other notable musicians: Kirk Whalum, Don Weller, Alan Barnes, Clark Tracey, Liane Carroll, Tommy Chase, Ben Castle, Claire Martin, Jim Mullen, Bryan Spring.
As an artist, Mark has several albums to his own name including “In Deep”, produced by four time Grammy Nominated/Brit Award winning producer James McMillan, and “Sawdust and Spangles” featuring his eclectic project “The Cloggz”.
Mark is a member of Ben Castle and the Blah Street Band. As long term collaborators, Mark and Ben also have a quartet, “Albuca”, with Darren Beckett (drums) and Arnie Somogyi (bass).
Mark has played live across the world including Europe, Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Russia, Singapore and Iceland.
Booklet for The Ellington Piano Project