Born out of saxophonist Tony Kofi and pianist Alex Webb’s shared love of Duke Ellington, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns and a rhythm section.

Born out of saxophonist Tony Kofi and pianist Alex Webb’s shared love of Duke Ellington, The Pocket Ellington manages what ought to be impossible – creating a classic Ellingtonian sound with just four horns and a rhythm section.

With Kofi, Alan Barnes, Simon Finch and David Lalljee on hand, anything is possible. Veteran bassist Dave Green and powerhouse drummer Alfonso Vitale provide the swing, while velvet-voiced Marvin Muoneké guests on some of those classic heartbreaking Duke ballads.

Great compositions from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s - Main Stem, Rain Check, Cotton Tail, Chelsea Bridge, Such Sweet Thunder and others - are presented in clever new arrangements which evoke the period but also offer solo space to these top-flight musicians. The repertoire also includes pieces from artists and arrangers who were influenced by the Duke – Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and Gil Evans. It’s a big sound from a pocket band.

Miles Davis is supposed to have said, ‘at least one day out of the year all musicians should just put their instruments down, and give thanks to Duke Ellington.’ The Pocket Ellington does just that.