ELLA & THE DUKE is a narrated, dramatic musical vehicle exploring the close friendship between these seminal American geniuses, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. Performed with grand piano and voice alone, or including orchestral pieces, and visual elements. Any iteration is a stand-out event.

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington and Ella Jane Fitzgerald’s paths could not have been more different. With an 18 year age gap, Ella’s tumultuous, troubled background was polar opposite to Duke’s stable middle class upbringing. Their reciprocal musical respect of each other birthed a brother/sister relationship that lasted their entire lifetimes. Their many recorded and live collaborations showcase a bond represented spectacularly via the universal language of music.

The show sets the audience as aural and visual witnesses to the development of this iconic relationship - from Ella's first appearance at The Apollo, and Duke's journey from painter to legend, to their meeting and musical collaborations.

Sandra & Mark’s individual "whys" for this project are relayed through personal stories, in their signature candor and wit.

Their combined decades of experience creating musical and dramatic stories lend a particular perfect storm of talents to this one of a kind presentation.

inquiries: Joy Collingbourne

About Sandra

Sandra St. Victor, a Dallas-born, Holland-based artist, is a multifaceted singer, songwriter, and visionary.

She has collaborated with legends like Curtis Mayfield, Prince, and Chaka Khan. Her music spans soul, rock, dance, and jazz, earning her Grammy noms for songwriting, and induction into the Soul Music Hall of Fame.

As a founding member of The Family Stand, Sandra toured with icons such as Roy Ayers, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ziggy Marley. Her solo albums, including Mack Diva Saves the World and Gemini: Both Sides, showcase her lyrical depth and fearless exploration of themes like love, spirituality, and social issues. Her album Oya’s Daughter reflect her evolution as an artist and her continued embrace of change and cultural commentary. As a vocalist, Ella Fitzgerald has always been her North Star.

As a producer and creative force, Sandra's Strategic Soul Ventures has initiated projects around the globe. St. Victor's Daughters of Soul project united powerhouse women artists, Nona Hendryx, Lalah Hathaway, Lisa Simone, Joyce Kennedy, and Deniece Williams for international tours throughout The EU, The UK and the Far East, while her production, A Concert For Bill Withers brought together Dutch celebrities to perform Bill's classics for the man himself, front and center.

Her live solo presence transcends borders, performing in The EU, UK, Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, Holland, Suriname, and Curacao, she's gained massive respect amongst her peers, and continues to inspire with her commitment to truth, unity, and the transformative power of music.

About Mark

Mark Batson is a visionary artist whose boundless creativity has shaped the soundscape of modern music, film, and storytelling. A classically trained pianist from Brooklyn’s Bushwick Projects, Batson’s journey spans genres and generations, from Hip Hop and Jazz to Rock, Classical, and beyond.

With over 130 million albums sold worldwide, his groundbreaking work with icons like Eminem, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Dave Matthews Band has earned Grammy wins and chart-topping success. His virtuoso Jazz piano skills have been displayed while performing with Wynton Marsalis and Charlie Rousse, and as the Jazz pianist for Smithsonian museum’s African American culture department in the 1990s.

Batson’s artistry transcends music, weaving into film, television, and literature. He has produced and written music for award winning projects like I, Tonya, American Hustle, King Richard and Sharp Objects, founded One Unlimited Media to create graphic novels, and collaborated on operas, documentaries, and multimedia ventures. His passion for innovation has even led him to write the theme music for Alicia Keys’ Tony award winning musical, Hell’s Kitchen and reimagine the Bach Suites with Yo-Yo Ma.

A relentless innovator, Batson’s mission is to elevate the human spirit, breaking barriers of race, gender, and geography. Whether teaching songwriting at USC, fundraising for mental health initiatives, or crafting cosmic divinity films, he remains a beacon of inspiration. In his own words: “When we become ONE, we become UNLIMITED.”