KETC to air Strayhorn documentary on February 11

Lush Life, a documentary film about jazz composer and pianist Billy Strayhorn, will air on St. Louis PBS affiliate KETC (Channel 9) at 11:30 p.m. next Sunday, February 11. Broadcast under the auspices of PBS' Independent Lens series, the film will also be shown a few days earlier on KETC's digital HD channel (9.1), first at 9 p.m. this Tuesday, February 6 and again at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7.

During his 30-year association with Duke Ellington, Strayhorn served as Duke's right-hand man, arranger and copyist, rehearsal pianist, and all-around musical alter ego, and also composed a number of jazz standards, including "Take the A Train," "Lush Life," and "Chelsea Bridge". If you enjoy enjoy Ellington's music but don't know much about Strayhorn, this film should be worth a look; those who already know his work may want to tune in for the performances of Strayhorn's songs by musicians including Elvis Costello, Dianne Reeves, Bill Charlap, Joe Lovano and Russell Malone.