a lot of duke ellington on there. i didn't think i liked jazz until i was close to my 20s and i realized my singing -- even in musical theater, something people comment on is my phrasing and the way i attack music. i realize it's more jazz phrasings, i don't sing on the one and the three, it's more on the two and four and i back-phrase a lot and sing what i call in the spaces. that's what jazz is really more about, is playing in the spaces and letting time be a part of the music as much as the notes are themselves. >> i warned you i might do this, i want to ask you about what makes a great voice. and what stands out for me is seeing you in "kiss me kate" and "so in love." is there a portion of that song that you could sing? >> let's see. ♪ strange, dear, but true dear ♪ when i'm close to you, dear, the stars fill the sky ♪ normally it's written ♪ the stars fill the sky but i want to take it to ♪ the stars fill the sky it gives it expanse. gives it spans. cole partner is another artist you can do in different ways. >>

he was chosen to solo with deucalion -- duke ellington. after graduating from arbour moskal, he returned to the san francisco bay area where he lived ever since. he has had an illustrious career as a syndicated newspaper columnist, singer, songwriter, and aid to seneator -- now senator feinstein. his a tribute to cole porter took the world by storm and he regularly sells out at such classical venues as byrd land in new york. his parents chose the rosslyn district to raise their family. he is a proud alumnus of washington high school. he was named the youth mayor when george christopher was the mayor. he spent the day as the mayor of san francisco. i will say also that he is also -- we all love "i left my heart in san francisco." it is an honor to be in your presence as well as all the other leaders. mr. griffin? >> thank you very much, supervisor mar. i am deeply humbled by this honor. i received this also on the behalf of my parents who came here in 1944 at the behest of roy wilkins. they were playing 37% to -- paying teachers much lower.

i don't know if any of these faces are duke ellington. there are lots of african-american historical luminaries but not duke. we insist, freedom now suite. you can see the album covers are re-enacting the sit-ins, and this album was inspired by the sit-ins, the sort of mass uprising, spontaneous uprising of college, black youth. white youth took part in the sit-ins throughout the south and then charles mingus who was a very distinctive and strong voice of protest. spirituals in gospel music, of course, paul roveson identified with the spirituals and also identified with a strong voice of protest. leatine price, another african-american classical singer who was very prominent in this period. mahalia jackson, participated in the march on washington and a friend of dr. king and mr. reston, made a recording of spirituals and in addition to his brilliance as an organizer, he was a great singer as well. and then the tradition of the freedom songs, and this is primarily within snc, though freedom songs would be sung at other rallies, of other ci

still relevant today with the students from the duke ellington school of the arts. >> love is not ther. ♪ only love can conquer >> reporter: much has changed in 40 years ago since marvin performed the song "what's going on" in this building and much has remained the same. >> too much unemployment. >> reporter: students at duke ellington know the issues for youth today. many are living it. >> i lost six of my friends my senior year alone in my neighborhood. they were all murdered. >> we've got to wear this. we've got to sing this type of song. we've got to be somebody who we don't want to be but i think society is also changing and teaching us to be individuals. >> reporter: john legend hopes to inspire the students using the arts, social media and marvin gaye's music. >> kids are very aware of their surroundings and the world is getting smaller and smaller for them through all this technology that we v. they kind of need a little bit of a catalyst. ♪ what's going on >> reporter: bruce johnson, 9news now. >> good morning. >>> thank you for watching 9news now at 5:00 a.m. i'm andrea roa

everybody from duke ellington to nat king cole, sarah vaughn. musicians would come on my long and argue, who was better? culturally, it was an incredible period. i spent time listening to the royalty of our music. >> randy weston that, as we continue this black history month special. >> "hi fly" by randy weston, his song about being 6 feet 8 inches. we sat down at the tribeca performing arts center with randy weston. after serving in the army, he recurred to his home in brooklyn and then later moved to massachusetts, a decision that changed his life. >> after we came back from the army, i came home, but there were drugs in the neighborhood. i had a friend who was a semiprofessional basketball player. he said, randy, come on up, take any job. it was full of music. the boston symphony was there over the summer. that is what i did. >> you were able to kick the habit totally up there? >> yes. i needed a change of atmosphere. i was very blessed. i met great people. lucas foster, leonard bernstein, members of the symphony orchestra. by that time, they

tonight they are going to help pay tribute to duke ellington at strathmore hall. this morning they are joining us in the studio to show us some of their moves. welcome back. you were here about a year ago and we loved seeing you. come back and see us and we are glad you are both back in washington. you are away at school now. >> i am. >> manhattan college. >> you are still in high school. what braid? >> i'm a junior. >> we are so glad to have you back with us. how did you get started tap dancing here in washington? >> well, i started when i was 3 and then years later he started when he was 2. my mom just saw us, you know, trying to run out to the dance floor when mom and sister were trying to rehearse with her competition studio. she put news. i guess it became a family tradition. >> i guess it has. people noticed you. you actually played in the duke ellington sophisticated ladies at the arena stage at 2010. how did you get that part? >> we went to the duke ellington school for a class and then one of the times -- he asked us to come to the audition. >> you look g

duke ellington, that is. ellington called his music american music, not jazz. rather than jazz.as a pianist. there's one contemporary pianist who keeps the ellington legacy alive and his name is jason moran. of course, jason is about creating his own 40 karat history. last summer he walked away with three major awards from down beats annual critics poem. bea best pianist and jazz album of the year. today he's performing the classic "i like the sunshine." please welcome jason moran. [ applause ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ applause ] >> that was jason moran. and the smithsonian magazine recently dubbed him keeper of the keys and after that rendition of ellington's "i like the sunrise" i think we all know why. yes. thank you, jason moran. every day millions experience the wonder of the smithsonian. children engage with timeless artwork in all of its museums. teachers spark the fascination of teenagers with science lessons shaped by the smithsonian scholars. researchers navigate the vastness of the ocean and explore the biodiversity of panama. guiding the work of the largest museum and research co

this kid very eagerly said, duke ellington!rter: with confidence. >> yes. >> reporter: among his favorite days with wrc, radio. a drive time announcer in the big band era. interviewing some big names. >> i would select them. and i would go up and interview them. ♪ >> reporter: he still comes back to nbc 4 every week with former colleagues to listen to favorites. ♪ hey there ♪ you there with the stars in your eyes ♪ >> reporter: and it's the good old days that make for his favorite kinds of questions. >> i like when they do broadway show questions. i grew up in new york city, and i saw first premier run on oklahoma. >> reporter: his legend is still legendary here. he can rattle off baseball stats. while most of us were always just waking up on saturday mornings to watch, mac was always spot-on, never missing a beat. you've got cheerleaders, fans, bleachers filled, the parents, students. there's so much electricity in here, there's a lot of nervous energy, too. what's it like for you? it must be a rush on saturday mornings. >> ye

s duke ellington school of the arts got the surprise of their lives when legend chimed in on their rehearsal for a performance on the millennium stage at the kennedy center. in may he'll be back to honor one of music's great, marvin gaye. it was an album inspired by war, poverty, and drug abuse. marvin gaye's landmark "what's going on" and his 1972 performance at the kennedy center turns 40. >> it's interesting to look at what's then, and what's now. the issues of war, the issues of veterans. you have young people here today, and young people across the country that his music still means something to. >> reporter: could commemorate the album's anniversary, the kennedy center is asking young people, what's going on, now, and asking them to post their answers on what'sgoingonnow.org. it will be a may concert. >> whether it's music, whether it's a play, poetry, whatever it is, we're going to select some of that work to be part of the performance. >> reporter: the project will culminate with two concerts, may 3rd and 4th here at the kennedy center featuring, of course, john legend, the nat kings

in my household, duke ellington and louis armstrong were heros but i didn't learn how broad african-american achievement was until i took part in a program in harlem that was designed to show the kids in harlem how to make it a better place. that's when i started to learn about the harlem -- >> on the shoulders of giants, a documentary kareem abdul-jabbar released last year tells the story of a black basketball team that won the first integrated professional tournament in 1939 long before championships came with product endorsement deals. >> black americans have never been given credit for the things they have contributed to american life. it's always seen as something that happened in the shadows and in the corners. i wanted to shine a light on that. >> 7'2" kareem abdul-jabbar is still the nba's all-time lead scorer with 38,387 points. and his place in american sports history is ensured with his signature sky hook. for those that don't know, what's a sky hook? >> it is just a hook shot on the basketball court. i put my own little stamp on it. you want the ball to come down through the hoop

s duke ellington school of the arts yesterday.his surprise, the student got to have a jam session with the singer. he was there to launch a new program called what's going on now, which honors the late singer marvin gaye and encourage young artist to engage in social issues just as gaye did with his iconic song "what's going on." students can submit music and poems to the web site. we put a link on our web site at nbcwashington.com. >> i have a suggestion. why don't we replay the video and listen this time. >> exactly. >> that was terrific. great experience for those kids. >> yeah. and a great program. >> wonderful program. >>> let's go to tom kierein now, 6:41. weather & traffic on the 1s. >> grab the umbrella before you head off to work and school, especially areas east of washington. we've got a band of rain coming through. right now the area in yellow, it's coming down moderately in prince george's county heading to the east. elsewhere getting some light sprinkles in arlington and prince george's counties farther to the south.

s duke ellington school of the arts yesterday.fter the surprise his students got to have a jam session with the singer. he was there to launch a new program called "what's going on now." it encourages young artists to engage in social issues. just like marvin gaye did with "what's going on." students can participate in the program by uploading creative expressions like music and poems to the project's website. and we put a link to that website on nbcwashington.com. first the first lady got some laughs on "the tonight show" last night. excuse me. michelle obama tried to break jay leno's unhealthy eating habits by giving him fruits and vegetables grown at the white house. leno turned the tables back on the first lady asking her what foods she doesn't like. >> you know, i don't like beets. i'm not a beet lover. what do you have? >> these are beets. oh, tricky, tricky. you don't know. >> you don't know if you don't like something if you don't try them. >> i will do it. bring it on! whole beet. >> she was a good sport. the first lady t

still relevant today, with students from the city's duke eling ellington school for the arts. ♪ [ musicas changed since marvin gay performed the song in this building. and much remained the same. >> too much unemployment in america. there are too many homeless people on the streets. >> know the issues for youth today. many are living. >> i lost six of my friends, my senior year alone in my neighborhood. they were all murdered. >> we have to wear this. we have to sing this type of song. we have to be somebody who we don't want to be. i think society is also changing and teaching us to be individual. >> john legend hopes to inspire the students using the arts, social media. and marvin gay's music. >> kids are very aware of their surroundings and the world is getting smaller and smaller for them through all this technology that we have. they need a little bit of a catalyst. ♪ [ music ] >> bruce johnson, 9news now. >> and the kennedy center is encouraging young people to go to the website, what's going on now.org and john legend will be back in may. he has two concerts coming up. >>> it was

. >> reporter: today the students jammed with the wittenmarcelas band at the duke ellington xoofl therts. but who knows what tomorrow will bring? >> you see yourself in a jazz band? you see yourself in a marching band? where do you see yourself? >> well, i see myself in both actually. >> reporter: this program began serving three middle schools in d.c. they are now serving seven schools, 300 students, and hoping to expand the program even more. in northwest, i'm tracee wilkins. news 4. >> you know that was very cool for them. >> they were keeping up. they were good. >> no they were quite good. >> we're just getting started. what happens in vegas stays in vegas. we've heard, that is unless you are this local marine. >> i'm liz crenshaw. have a drafty house? find out how home owners are getting free help in making their homes energy efficient. my story is coming up. >>> coming up at 5:30 a 17-year-old girl murdered in a neighborhood park and almost seven years later her family waits for justice in a prince george's county courtr flooe reducing your energy bills never seemed so easy. the

s duke ellington school of the arts got to jam with musician john legend yesterday. what a treat.was there to kick off a new program called what's going on now. it is a partnership with the kennedy center and honors the late singer marvin gaye. it encourages youngsters to engage in social issues as marvin gaye did in his song "what's going on." 40 years ago. young people can participate by uploading creative expressions including music and poems to the project's web site. and we've put a link to it on nbcwashington.com. cool. >> how fun. what a great experience for them. >> uh-huh. >>> the first lady got some laughs on the "tonight show." >> yep. michelle obama tried to break jay leno's self-proclaimed unhealthy eating habits by giving him fruits and vegetables grown at the white house. >> leno turned the tables back on the first lady then asking her what foods she doesn't like. >> i don't like beets. >> beets. okay. >> i'm not a beet lover. >> i have something for you -- >> what do you have? >> beets. >> oh. >> i thought you'd like them. >> ew. oh, tricky, tricky. >> you know, fo

duke ellington. he called his music, american music, not jazz. brethren jazz.ic for more than 50 years as a composer and a band leader and a pianist. there is one pianist that keeps the ellenton legacy alive. his name is jason moran. last summer he walked away with three major awards be -- best pianist, jazz album of the year, and artist of the year. today he is performing the ellington classic "i like the sunshine." please welcome jason moran. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> that was jason moran. the smithsonian magazine recently dubbed him "keeper of the keys." after that rendition of "i like the sunrise," i think we all know why. [applause] thank you. every day millions experience the wonder of the smithsonian. children engage with timeless artwork in all of its museums. teachers spark the fascination of teenagers with science lessons. researchers navigate the badness of the ocean and explore the biodiversity of panama. guiding is dr. wayne clough. he is overseeing a program which includes the construction of the smithsonian's 19th museum. we are breaki

." >> brian stokes mitchell is a broadway star and did a performance about honoring duke ellington.was a good time to take a look at arts for a bit. one of the great voices, great broadway stars. >> did you get him to sing? >> i did, actually, i did. it made the people working for me a little nervous, but it was great. he was terrific. >> all right, david gregory. >> that's right after the show. >> tune in. thank you very much. >>> when david got to the set, the first question he asked was what about snow? >> well, then you need to explain this to my kids. >> i've got my cell phone. you can call them directly, tell them what's going on happen. >> the call's going out to david's house and your houses, keep your expectations low, low, low for this sunday event. your detailed forecast is next. >>> welcome back, everybody. we are talking your weather. it is our top story this morning. >> right. >> because we are going to see flakes. now, how many, that's another question. >> right here -- [ everyone talking at once ] >> computer models, and they're like, which model are you looking at?

duke ellington. he called his music, american music, not jazz. brethren jazz.usic for more than 50 years as a composer and a band leader and a pianist. there is one pianist that keeps the ellenton legacy alive. his name is jason moran. last summer he walked away with three major awards be -- best pianist, jazz album of the year, and artist of the year. today he is performing the ellington classic, "i like the sunshine." please welcome jason moran. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> that was jason moran. the smithsonian magazine recently dubbed him "keeper of the keys." after that rendition of "i like the sunrise," i think we all know why. [applause] thank you. every day millions experience the wonder of the smithsonian. children engage with timeless artwork in all of its museums. teachers spark the fascination of teenagers with science lessons. researchers navigate the badness of the ocean and explore the biodiversity of panama. guiding is dr. wayne clough. he is overseeing a program which includes the construction of the smithsonian's 19th museum. we are bre