Duke Ellington: Musical Genius
A performance and lecture by Quentin Walston
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 7:00 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Members $40 - Non-Members $50
A selection of light refreshments and bar service will be available
Celebrate Washington's own Duke Ellington through an intimate concert of his most cherished compositions. Quentin Walston explores the breadth of Ellington's genius from Roaring 20s-era compositions like "Black and Tan Fantasy", to iconic big band hits like "Take the A Train" to the sophisticated tone poems of "Come Sunday." Pianist and jazz educator Quentin Walston brings scholarly insight and passionate performance to this journey through Ellington's career, revealing why the D.C. native remains one of America's greatest composers.
Bio
Quentin Walston
Quentin Walston is a composer, pianist, and educator from the Washington DC area whose work bridges the legacy of jazz's greatest composers with contemporary innovation. He performs with his jazz trio and as a solo pianist. His latest album, “Retro Future,” combines influences from Thelonious Monk to current groups like The Bad Plus. Quentin reaches over 225,000 followers through his social media channels dedicated to jazz history and appreciation, where he regularly celebrates the contributions of jazz pioneers such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. His books How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation and Jazz Piano Like A Pro have been featured on All About Jazz and podcasts around the world, equips teachers to share jazz with students of all ages, instruments, and abilities. As a Maryland State Arts Council “Touring Artist” and Virginia Commission for the Arts “Teaching Artist”, Quentin brings passionate performance and scholarly insight to concert halls, classrooms, and masterclass settings nationwide. Learn more at QuentinWalston.com
Discounted parking (free for members with membership card) at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. at the corner of I Street and 20th Street NW.
The Arts Club of Washington is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. located at 2017 I Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20006
