Chris Coleman… This is a LP cover of The Duke Ellington Congress concert, dec. 1973 interesting for two reasons. Because we were in the middle of massive social unrest at the time,three day week power and petrol rationing etc.the attendance numbered around a silly 50 only.Ten minutes before start time, the Duke put his head through the curtains and asked us to give him a call when the audience.arrived. The second point is that this was Duke Ellingtons last live performance, he passed away a few months later.
Mick Bolton… Strangely enough I’m writing this in the foyer of the Congress Theatre. I’m picking my wife up after she’s been watching Cats. I turned down the opportunity to see it – I don’t think I could sit through a Lloyd Webber musival – but I just wish I could turn the clock back and see the great Duke on that stage!