Duke Ellington School Of The Arts Students Treated To High Energy Show & Jam By Top Uk Swing Band

WASHINGTON - March 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Students at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts were treated to an unusual and impromptu visit from the United Kingdom’s top jive and swing band.  The Jive Aces were semi-finalists of Britain’s Got Talent 2012 and winners of BBC Television show  Opportunity Knocks, special guests, award winning dancers, The Tinseltown Jitterbugs, and actress Makinna Ridgway (of the Satin Dollz) took a day off from their U.S. tour to inspire the aspiring music and art students with their signature high energy upbeat jive tunes and acrobatic swing dances and share the message that living a drug free life is the way to a long and prosperous musical career.

During the band’s performance, one Duke Ellington young trumpeter picked up his trumpet and jumped right in with the band, adding his own sounds to the Jive Aces’ last song, "Jump Jive and Wail”, said afterwards that, "It was such an honor to play with the band. This was the best! This event made me decide to play in a big band".

Band lead singer Ian Clarkson bridged the continental divide with humor and jokes and the performances were nothing less than over the top.   From the amazing musical talent of each band member showcased in a variety of solos, to the show stealing acrobatics (while playing) of pianist Vince “The Professor” Hurley, it was an action packed afternoon.

Half-way into the show, one of the students asked how a washboard (musical instrument) sounded so John Fordham, normally on tenor saxophone, pulled out his Irish fiddle and Alex Douglas, normally on trombone, brought out the washboard and wowed the students with what could be done with a metal board and a few  thimbles.

Actress Makinna Ridgway (of the Satin Dollz) gave a soulful performance of two classic jazz songs including, “Too Darn Hot”.

The playing was additionally punctuated with the incredible aerial antics of the 4 time Lindy Hop dance champion, Yulan Hod and California Swing Dance Hall of Famer, MinVo, who tossed their partners Carleen Smith and Julia Slavikas over their heads and even to one another.  The students were on their feet singing and dancing along, fully overtaken by the enthusiasm and exuberance of the moment.

At the close of the event, students, who were picking up their own copies of custom Jive Aces The Way to Happiness booklets, crowded around to get them autographed by the band and the dancers.  Others of the kids grabbed their instruments and joined in on an upbeat jam session and pretty soon the young talent of the school were jammin’ away with the runners up of Britain’s Got Talent, who even made Simon Cowell smile.

It was an afternoon to remember.

The whole event was capped with the message:  Don’t be fooled by the hype, living a drug free life will keep you in the music business a lot longer than giving in to those who might try to convince you otherwise.  The best thing to do, if anything or anyone tries to bring you down, the band leader, Ian Clarkson, said, was to flourish and prosper, the 21st precept from The Way to Happiness.

Doctor of Musical Arts and Collaborative Piano and recent addition to the Duke Ellington School staff, Dr. Lester Green, was able to facilitate the impromptu visit with the help of the administration and other faculty, and were especially looking forward to having their students hear the drug free life message.

The Jive Aces are known for their drug education efforts with the Foundation for a Drug Free World and have received numerous awards for it.

Ian Clarkson, lead singer of the Jive Aces said: "I am so happy we had an opportunity to perform to young aspiring musicians, let them know they can reach their dreams and do so without the use of drugs, as all drugs do is destroy careers and lives. It was the perfect place for us to perform at Duke Ellington -- he was one of our band's music inspirations.  Makinna and the dancers also loved it and they could really tell the students had such a great time listening to live, uplifting music."

Lester Green, agreed: "It was a real treat for a Monday to have the Jive Aces come. The students loved it!"

The group will continue their US tour to Montreal Canada, Wilmington DE and Garden City NY. The band, who also had a hit on Youtube with over 2.5 million views for their music video, Bring Me Sunshine (www.jiveaces.com/sunshine) is about to release a new album in May-June, called "Spread a Little Happiness".

For more info about the Jive Aces visit their website: www.jiveaces.com.

The Way to Happiness is a common sense moral code written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, which crosses all creeds, faiths and political beliefs, and includes a precept on temperance, supporting the message for a drug free life. Other examples include:  Don’t do anything illegal, Be competent, Be industrious and Honor and help your parents.  For more information about The Way to Happiness, please see www.thewaytohappiness.org.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is an international nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free.  For more information about The Foundation, please see www.drugfreeworld.org.