Madison Jazz Festival: "Duke and Paul" by Patricia Willard

This event is part of the Madison Jazz Festival, which takes place from June 10-19 throughout the city of Madison. Learn more at madisonjazzfestivalwi.org.

Jazz historian Patricia Willard will share a first-person account of Duke Ellington and his Orchestra at UW-Madison 50 years ago, while a student and journalist for Downbeat. Reflecting on Duke's week in residence, the hour will conclude with video of Duke Ellington and Paul Gonsalves performing "Happy Reunion" in Mills Hall on July 21, 1972.

Patricia Willard is a writer, historian, photojournalist, concert producer, archivist and research consultant who, for more than 25 years was associated with Duke Ellington as editor, researcher and West Coast public relations counsel. In July 1972, she independently registered as a student for the University of Wisconsin Duke Ellington Festival and covered the week-long event for Downbeat magazine. She holds one semester unit of University of Wisconsin undergraduate credit in Duke Ellington. Ms. Willard has served as Historical Consultant to the Duke Ellington Collection at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of American History, Consultant in Jazz and Popular Music at the Library of Congress and has conducted jazz oral histories for these institutions as well as for the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Oral History Program. She currently is completing a book on Ellington's last quarter century and his continuing impact on music internationally.

Patricia Willard's presentation of "Duke and Paul" is a free event open to the public.

GET YOUR MADISON JAZZ FEST PASSPORT

Pick up a passport at any Madison Jazz Fest event, and get it stamped at each event you attend throughout the festival (or show your ticket purchase receipt). Earn points and redeem them at participating venues, including the Wisconsin Union Theater.