The National Symphony Gets Down & Gets Funky

Tonight, at its annual free Labor Day performance on the West Lawn of the Capitol, the National Symphony Orchestra featured the music of 3 DC musical legends - march king John Philip Sousa, jazz legend Duke Ellington, and go-go funk master Chuck Brown.

First, the NSO prodded the crowd's patriotic side with a series of Sousa's stirring marches, concluding with his most famous, "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Next, came a string of famous Ellington compositions including "Take the A Train" and "Satin Doll." Ellington's granddaughter, Mercedes, added personal vignettes about the tunes.

Finally, the NSO revealed its funky side by playing a mash-up of the classical Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey combined with Brown's breakout hit "Fee l Like Bustin Loose" (which was sampled by Nelly for his hit "It's Hot in Here" and is the officials song for the Washington Nationals Baseball team).

Following the symphony performance, Brown, who just turned 75, and his band took the stage and kept the crowd bobbing and bouncing for another hour.

Travelers' Tip:
In today's post-9/11 world, if you're going to a crowded event, be sure to leave ample time to pass through security.