2006年VOA标准英语-Washington Gets Set for 2nd Duke Ellington Jazz

By Doug Levine
Washington
01 October 2006

Jazzman Duke Ellington had millions of fans around the world, but perhaps his most-loyal audience was in his hometown, Washington, D.C. Duke's legacy¹ lives on in Washington with the 2nd Annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.

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Duke Ellington

Washington's thriving nightlife in the early-1900s, especially in and around the so-called U Street corridor, provided the perfect backdrop for Duke Ellington's youth. An aspiring² pianist and composer, Duke gravitated toward the nightclubs and dancehalls alive with jazz, most notably³ the Howard Theater, True Reformer's Hall and the Bohemian Caverns⁴. It was here that he formed his first band, Duke's Serenaders, before leaving Washington for New York City in 1923.

Today, U Street is again flourishing. Restaurants, shops, cafes and nightclubs are drawing residents and tourists back to the street once known as "The Black Broadway."

Also back for its second year, The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.

For five days and nights in October (10/4-10/8), jazz music will blanket one corner of the city to the other with performances at U Street's historic Lincoln Theater and Bohemian Caverns. Other D.C. landmarks⁵ such as The Kennedy Center and Blues⁶ Alley⁷ will host events, capped by an all-day concert on the National Mall featuring Doctor John, The Roy Hargrove Quintet, Mavis Staples⁸, John Scofield and Pancho Sanchez.

Along with an International Jazz Showcase, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will feature performances by Paquito D'Rivera, Janis Seigel, the Geri Allen Trio, the Roy Haynes Quartet, the Wallace Roney Sextet, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, and a Duke Ellington tribute concert led by jazz veteran Randy Weston.

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 aspiring   

adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求

参考例句：

• Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
• He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句

3 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

4 caverns   

大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Within were dark caverns; what was inside them, no one could see. 里面是一个黑洞，这里面有什么东西，谁也望不见。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• UNDERGROUND Under water grottos, caverns Filled with apes That eat figs. 在水帘洞里，挤满了猿争吃无花果。

5 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

6 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

7 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

8 staples   

n.（某国的）主要产品( staple的名词复数 )；钉书钉；U 形钉；主要部份v.用钉书钉钉住( staple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The anvil onto which the staples are pressed was not assemble correctly. 订书机上的铁砧安装错位。 来自辞典例句
• I'm trying to make an analysis of the staples of his talk. 我在试行分析他的谈话的要旨。 来自辞典例句