I have nothing against the actual quality of the music that the so-called Duke Ellington Orchestra is playing. Nothing. But seriously…what we’re talking about is basically an hour at Blues Alley–which doesn’t let you stay for the second set without paying double–for FIFTY bucks. There’s an expectation when people pay that much for a show: not just high-quality music, but high-quality music played by famous musicians.

In this case, the band has the name of the famous musician, without the actual presence of the famous musician; it doesn’t even have the less famous musicians who were nonetheless famously associated with that famous musician. At best, it has a man who was in the band for a brief heartbeat of Ellington’s career.

Put it this way: if Herbie Williams (Charlie Parker’s last trumpeter) had put together a quintet of unknowns with himself as the leader, billed it as the “Charlie Parker Quintet,” and charged $37.75, plus surcharge, plus $10 minimum…wouldn’t you think that was a bit exorbitant?

$37.75 before add-ons? This is one of the big reasons why the music is dying. Some have got it to the point where it’s no longer for the people. Museum music belongs in a museum. Or at least Lincoln Center.