Bobby Short Belts Out a Tribute to the Legendary Duke Ellington

Bobby Short, whose image as one of the world’s finest cabaret artists sometimes obscures his jazz roots, was the guiding light behind the creation of a Duke Ellington sculpture in New York’s Central Park. The singer-pianist’s affection for Ellington and his music traces back to the late ‘30s, when Short was a 12-year-old vaudeville performer. He vividly recalls the first time he met his idol.

“I was in my manager’s office in New York,” he says, “and Duke walked in. He was utterly charming.

“I played for him, and then he sat down and played the entire score from his new Cotton Club revue. Well, later that year, when I was back in school in Danville, Ill., all those songs that I’d heard Duke play were on the radio. And I’d say to my friends, ‘I know that song,’ and they’d say, ‘What do you mean you know it?’ And I’d say, ‘I heard Duke play it himself!’ ”

Short never really thought that he’d wind up fronting his own large ensemble, but that’s exactly what he’ll be doing next week at Catalina Bar & Grill. Returning with a completely new set of music after last year’s sold-out run at the same venue, he is eagerly looking forward to the special thrill of performing in front of a band.

“I’m not Ellington,” he says with a throaty laugh, “but I get a great kick out of playing and singing in this kind of setting. You know, it really frees me to do some things that I can’t quite do with the trio, and it also allows me to stand up in front and sing. That’s an interesting new experience.”

Short promises to include some Ellington in his set, as well as the Cole Porter standards so intrinsic to his repertoire. And he undoubtedly will take advantage of the opportunity to reveal some of his own stride-oriented improvising.

“And not just me,” he says. “Don’t forget that we’ve got some pretty fine jazz players in the band too. So we’re expecting this is to be an all-around fun evening for everyone.”

Parker Remains: The controversial plan to move the body of legendary alto saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker from its resting place in Kansas City’s Lincoln Cemetery has been dropped. The plan called for Parker’s remains to be placed in the restored 18th and Vine district, a mecca for jazz in the ‘30s, and the planned location of a Parker sculpture. But “respect and concern for the family’s wishes” brought an end to the plans.

Grammy All-Stars: Borders Books and Music is sponsoring performances by the Grammy All-American High School Jazz ensembles as part of their participation in Grammy week in L.A. The groups will play at Borders Westwood at 1360 Westwood Blvd. next Friday at 8 p.m., and at Borders Santa Monica at 1415 Third Street Promenade on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. The ensembles include 34 all-star high school musicians. They will also perform at the Jazz Bakery on Feb. 21, and at Catalina Bar & Grill on Feb. 22.

CityJazz: This much-anticipated new, live performance venue within Universal Studios CityWalk entertainment complex in Orlando, Fla., opened last week with an appearance by four of the 14 surviving members of the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame--trumpeter-bandleader Maynard Ferguson, clarinetist-bandleader Artie Shaw and pianists Cecil Taylor and Horace Silver. CityJazz will be the permanent home of Down Beat’s Hall of Fame.

Swing Into Spring: Tickets are available for the spring portion of the San Francisco Jazz Festival’s expansion into year-round programming. The schedule includes a rare performance by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette on Feb. 28 (following their Royce Hall program Feb. 25). Sonny Rollins appears March 13 (following his Royce Hall concert March 11), and Cassandra Wilson performs May 8 (before a concert at the Wiltern on May 11). The schedule also includes “A History of Jazz Piano on Film,” with record producer Orrin Keepnews narrating classic footage of Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and many others. Info: (415) 788-7353.