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Although the virtuoso big band sound of Duke Ellington is one of the most recognizable sounds on the planet, far less known are the series of three “Sacred Concerts” that Ellington composed late in his life between 1965 and 1973, on commission, works that he considered the most important that he had ever written and that allowed him to “say openly what I have been saying on my knees.” Steeped not only in the jazz idiom Ellington so revolutionized, the “Sacred Concerts” also include elements of African-American spirituals, gospel, tap dance and blues as well as European classical music and the British choral music tradition, all given a swinging, kaleidoscopic treatment as only Ellington could mix them all up. Trumpeter and Chicago Jazz Ensemble music director Jon Faddis directed these remarkable pieces seven years ago with the San Francisco Symphony, and will direct this special CJE holiday concert performance of sections of them with vocalists Bobbi Wilsyn, Stephanie A. Dixon, Maggie Brown and Robert Sims along with tap dancer Bril Barrett and a full gospel choir under the direction of Chip Johnson. (Dennis Polkow)
Friday, December 14 at Harris Theater
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