This post was written by Hatchet Reporter Tamara El Waylly

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Visitors and residents of Foggy Bottom and the West End gathered Thursday across the street from the birthplace of a former resident – jazz legend Duke Ellington – to name a park in his honor.

The naming of Duke Ellington Park –  located on the intersection of M Street, 21st Street, and New Hampshire Avenue – was planned months in advance to coincide with the late musician’s birthday.

Known around the world for his music, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, and lived at 2129 Ward Place until the age of six. Acclaimed as one of the world’s best composers, Ellington earned 13 Grammy awards before dying on May 24, 1974 at the age of 75.

The Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A voted unanimously Feb. 17 to name the park, then known unofficially as Triangle Park, after Ellington.

With only six park benches and limited space, the ceremony at the park Thursday evening was simple, opening with a brief introduction by ANC 2A Chair Rebecca Coder.

“Today is about [Ellington’s] music,” said Coder, before passing the microphone to King James and the Serfs of Swing, a GW student jazz band led by Professor James Levy.

Coder said in an e-mail prior to the event that the focus of the ceremony was to honor Ellington, while “introducing West End residents, workers and visitors to a jazz great.”

Standing with their backs to the red brick office building that now stands where Ellington’s home once did, the band began with Ellington’s “Rockin’ in Rhythm.” King James and Serfs of Swing were quick to attract attention, as the initial crowd of 20 grew to more than 60 people, who stood crowded around the center of the park, or sat on the ground.

Although the event was publicized with flyers, West End Friends Secretary Gary Griffith said in an e-mail that the organizer of the event – his group’s West End Dining District Committee – was “not really trying to draw a huge crowd.”

Dick Golden, who works in GW’s Office of University Events and is the host of “GW Presents American Jazz” on Sirius-XM satellite radio, described the “terrific appeal” of the student jazz band.

“King James and the Serfs of Swing show that this isn’t old music,” Golden said.

The 13-member band and singer not only honored Ellington by playing his music, but later played songs by other jazz greats, such as Count Basie’s “Harlem Speaks.”

“We didn’t wanna forget his friends who were really great,” Levy said.

The GW jazz band was “thrilled, honored and humbled” to be chosen to perform at the ceremony, Levy said in an e-mail before the event. He said the band was offered the opportunity by Golden, who he called GW’s “guardian angel when it comes to things Jazz.”

“We were kind of surprised [the band] got this gig,” said freshman band member Dan Stelly.

Chris O’Brien, a freshman playing clarinet for the Serfs, agreed. He said the event felt “very important to the community.”

Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans also attended the event.

“Duke Ellington would have loved to hear his music playing in this neighborhood,” Evans told the crowd gathered at the park.

Remarking on the importance of the location, Evans said a future goal would be to have a statue of Ellington placed in the middle of a ring of yellow flowers blooming in the park.

As the band started the music up after Evans’ brief speech, Levy described how he had higher hopes for Duke Ellington Park.

“V for victory,” Levy said, as the jazz band took a V formation to play their second set. “And that victory will be when we get that [office] building replaced with the Duke Ellington building for the performing arts,” he told the crowd of his dream for the area.

Although the ceremony was brief, events honoring Ellington’s birthday were scheduled for the entire day throughout the neighborhood.

West End restaurants and hotels were asked to play four hours of Ellington’s music, with scheduled piano performances at The Fairmont, the Prime Rib and Marcel’s.

“It’s a great birthday present for Duke,” Coder said. “The goal was to celebrate his birthday, celebrate the naming of the park, but the music has done the celebration.”