Catch the Original 1939 'A' Train With the Duke Ellington Orchestra on a Once in a Lifetime Trip Through Time and the Subway Tunnels of New York

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Islands Of The Bahamas) - CELEBRATION: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has declared April 29 Duke Ellington Day in honor of the 110th anniversary of the jazz legend's birth. To commemorate his life, The Islands Of The Bahamas are sponsoring a special run of the last surviving 1939 'A' Train, made famous by Duke Ellington's signature tune Take the A Train.

WHAT: Paul Ellington, members of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and musicians from Music Under New York (MUNY) will perform the iconic song on the mezzanine at 125th Street and St. Nicholas. All musicians will then board and perform on the historic train as it travels out to JFK in regular service.

WHEN: Wednesday, April 29, 2009
10 a.m. Remarks and performance by Paul Ellington, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and musicians from MUNY
11 a.m. sharp All Aboard! 'A' Train departs 125th Street, making express stops
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The 'A' Train runs in revenue service and is open to the public

WHERE: 125th Street and St. Nicholas 'A' Train (IND) Subway Station

WHO: Paul Mercer Ellington and The Duke Ellington Orchestra
Musicians from Music Under New York
Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of Duke Ellington
Maurice Hines, stage, screen and television performer
Stanley Kay, friend of Duke Ellington
Joel Iskowitz, artist of the Duke Ellington Quarter released by the U.S. Mint
Bahamas musicians and VIPs
JetBlue Airways crewmembers

SPONSOR: The Islands Of The Bahamas, one of Duke Ellington's favorite haunts and home of the famous Cat and Fiddle Club in Nassau where top Jazz musicians from around the world entertained in the 50s and 60s.

CONTACT: Angie Orth, Weber Shandwick, [email protected]
O: 212.445.8303| C: 904.588.3418
Alberteen Anderson, NYCTA, 646.252.5853,
[email protected]