Duke Ellington died in 1974, before he finished work on his self-described “street opera” based loosely on famed Harlem Renaissance African-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Madame CJ Walker. “Queenie Pie” was the title Ellington gave his work in progress. The piece comes to life at the Chicago Opera Theater. Mezzo-soprano Karen Marie Richardson plays the lead role. She and COT Music Director Jeff Lindberg share some Ellington tunes with Morning Shift.