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Fargo Recreates Historic Duke Ellington Show

Fargo-Moorhead musicians and jazz professors Russ Peterson (left) and Matt Patnode (right) in the Prairie Public radio studio.
Prairie Public
Fargo-Moorhead musicians and jazz professors Russ Peterson (left) and Matt Patnode (right) in the Prairie Public radio studio.

Did you know that Fargo was the scene for one of the most beloved live jazz albums of all time?

Duke Ellington's show at downtown Fargo's Crystal Ballroom in 1940 would have been just another whistle stop on the jazz pioneer's fall tour — were it not for a couple of enterprising college students who created the live recording.

Eighty years later, a group of college music professors and local jazz musicologists are preparing to recreate that night, which eventually became immortalized on vinyl and honored by the Recording Academy.

Two upcoming performances

  • Monday November 10, at 7pm: Performance by Post Traumatic Funk Syndrome at Sidestreet Grille & Pub in Fargo, ND
  • Friday, November 14, at 7:30pm: Performance by FM Ellington Tribute Band at the Historic Holmes Theater in Detroit Lakes, MN