This opening performance captures British tenor saxophonist Emma Rawicz at the Brubeck Institute, launching a three-tune set with Billy Strayhorn's iconic swing anthem at a brisk 260 BPM. Rawicz delivers three choruses over the 32-bar AABA form as the sole soloist, demonstrating the command and confidence that brought her to the Institute's selective fellowship program. Strayhorn composed the piece in 1939, and Duke Ellington's orchestra made it one of the most recognizable themes in jazz history. At this tempo, the familiar melody becomes a vehicle for high-speed improvisation, testing the saxophonist's fluency and stamina. The two-and-a-half-minute performance is compact and focused, establishing the energy level before the set shifts to a Latin-flavored Green Dolphin Street. The solo format — with no other soloists cataloged — puts Rawicz's playing front and center throughout.
