Candice Hoyes pays homage to Duke Ellington’s “Far Away Star” with a contemporary arrangement by Ted Nash. Ellington originally recorded “Far Away Star with Swedish singer Alice Babs back in 1978. Hoyes’ rendition serves as a tribute to Ellington, freedom, and the Black experience—past, present, and future. Her compelling soprano carries the weight of Black memories and legacies that challenge the myth of a truly free world after the 13th amendment.
The band, characterized by rich and fluid horn arrangements, swings with a somber elegance, reminiscent of a dirge mourning the persistence of anti-Blackness. “Far Away Star” is featured on the tracklist of Hoyes’ forthcoming solo album. The singer, who also performs with the all-women jazz trio Nite Bjuti, recently received a 2025 DuBois Fellowship. Regarding her latest release, she states, “My single ‘Far Away Star’ is a tribute to Ellington, and it is a tribute to free expression and justice that is as eternal as the North Star.” Be sure to watch the visual for “Far Away Star” and stay tuned for more updates from Hoyes.
