On ‘Diggin’ the Duke’, Deborah J. Carter tackles the compositions of Duke Ellington. Taking his original compositions as her point of departure, Carter expresses many facets of her own personality. She applies the necessary vocal technique, but it’s the way she handles the lyrics that draws you in: her scat solos are as creative as they are provocative! Carter is accompanied by a quality band, consistent of bass player Mark Zandveld and Leo pianist Bouwmeester. Mark and Leo wrote new, updated arrangements of Ellington’s compositions, and Deborah penned original lyrics to a number of Ellington’s instrumentals. The band uses a mix of swing, Latin and fusion rhythms, in combination with adventurous harmonies. Carter’s name has become so well-known that she probably had little trouble finding guests musicians willing to contribute to this project, among whom the phenomenal saxophonists Efraim Trujillo and Emiel Wienholts.