This is the way that different types of people are learning to work together, like the orchestra. Ellington, credited with placing the composer front and center in jazz without diminishing the individual players, to this day remains a role model for composers as diverse as Wynton Marsalis, Sam Rivers, Maria Schneider and Toshiko Akiyoshi. He is the foundation. Everything kind of evolves from out of what he first did. He looked at a big band not just as an ensemble, but as a group with a number of individual soloists who have their own voices.
People are out there talking about it.
All events will be in various venues at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise noted. At Tampa Theatre. Opening on Feb. 11 at 2 p.m., features presentation about the photographer and his work. Thur.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. Times and venues to be announced.