Fifty years after his passing, Duke Ellington is universally admired and widely accepted as America’s most prolific jazz composer. 2024 is his 125th birthday anniversary, and Berkshires Jazz celebrates his legacy by presenting some (10, to be precise) of his most familiar works. Ellington’s music is often described as being “Beyond Category,” and a program featuring his music will have broad appeal beyond the typical jazz fan, blurring all age, gender, ethnic and racial lines.  The music will be performed by The Hot Club of New England, a quintet headed by pianist Matt and vocalist Atla DeChamplain. The program is testament to the versatility of the Ellington oeuvre, in this instance reimagined through the lens of the French Jazz Manouche style, which was introduced and popularized by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Duke a la Django.