Nou Dadoun
Nov 21, 2010, 09:33 PM
http://www.coastaljazz.ca/concert/duke_ellingtons_sacred_music
This was posted to the Duke Ellington list today by Mike Braverman, reproduced here with his permission:
Hi all,
Long time lurker here. Once in a while we have a musical experience we are so proud of that we can't help sharing it with as many people as possible.
On November 19 in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada was a magical performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Music. This was the second time this program has been performed here but the first time I was involved. Last year's audience at St. Andrews-Wesley church was over 1,000 people. This year the same church was full to about 800. Both concerts were benefits for homeless people in Vancouver.
I'll start with the music. Let me start by saying I'm not the most religious person in the world. I was actually brought up with a Jewish background. I even subbed out of a Klezmer gig to participate in one of the rehearsals. (My grandmother would be so proud) I've always been a huge fan of Duke's music and have had the opportunity perform many of his pieces. However, the sacred music he composed is very powerful with its biblical references. It also has a gospel quality and of course many messages about faith and freedom. The way he combines the soloists, choir and big band is extremely effective. Yet, most prominent is the Duke sound with the growly muted brass, extended improvised solos and biting harmonies. Of course, it SWINGS like crazy.
My personal highlight was the chance to play the 2nd tenor chair and emulate Jimmy Hamilton for the night. The clarinet solo from "In The Beginning” is beautiful, yet daunting. It's very high and exposed with some extended cadenzas. It was fun to play though and went well. At least it's in the opening of the concert and I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the show.
The members of the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra may not be familiar names to most of you. Rest assured that it is a high quality ensemble that has a long history of performing together. This was definitely not the first time this group has performed Ellington's music. The many Ellington pieces we have we have performed include the entire "Black Brown and Beige", "Harlem" "The Nutcracker Suite" and the “Tattooed Bride” (with myself on clarinet.) We've also done a concert of the entire Kenton "Cuban Fire" Suite which was recorded for CBC and premiered Ron Collier's big band orchestration of Oscar Peterson's "Canadian Suite". Needless to say, the band is very well experienced in performing big band music and includes many players that have studied jazz in New York, Chicago, Toronto and the University Of North Texas. Many people feel very proud of the high quality of jazz players in the city of Vancouver.
The vocal soloists included Dee Daniels, a well known singer in the Seattle Area who was also very inspirational in having these concerts re-created. She is a real pro and delivers here songs with authority and feeling. A local, Marcus Mosley is a seasoned musical theater performer who sang great and delivered the many recitative sections with conviction. The tap dace soloist, Alex Dugdale, was flown in from Rochester and brought the house down. How could he not be great tap dancer?- He's studying jazz saxophone at Eastman School of music having grown up in Seattle playing in the Garfield High School jazz program and winning the Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington competition!
The choir was about 12 performers and they were fantastic. The best part is they were well rehearsed and amplified with a microphone for each singer. It gave them more of a vocal jazz sound which was fine for me. It made all the inner harmonies very clear. Among their highlights were Duke’s haunting and beautiful a cappella rendition of "The Lord' Prayer" and some stunning interludes during "It's Freedom"
Finally I have to congratulate Fred Stride on his marvelous work. Fred is a humble guy for all his achievements. Many of you know Fred from this list and might be aware of his writing. However, you should know that practically every note performed last night was transcribed/edited and recopied from Fred's computer. His knowledge and passion of big band writing is unmatched. You have no idea how many big band pieces he has transcribed. Sometimes he has uses old scores and parts and sometimes it's just his ears. I always get a chuckle when he finds copying mistakes in the original parts or changes awkward voicings in the original scores. Many of his charts are with Sierra Publishing but there are many others. Of course, this does not include the many original big band compositions he is constantly producing for his own professional and university band as well as many high school bands. Some of you might know of his modern cutting edge big band writing from his recent CD-"Forward Motion." For those with more of a straight ahead taste, I encourage you to seek out his "Showboat Album". It's a recording of Jerome Kern music for full orchestra (and big band) that really shows off his orchestration skills. Recently, in 2007 he won the International Jazz Arranging Competition and in 2008 he received the Socan/IAJE Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award.
Fred also takes care of all things non-musical. He organizes rehearsals and makes sure the band is paid. He sets up chairs, stands and lights as well as many other duties that go unseen. In the end, I congratulate Fred for producing a very special night of Ellington big band music and I know he'll do it again. For that, we in Vancouver are very lucky.
Thanks for reading,
Mike Braverman
(P.S.-this was cross-posted to other newsgroups.)
From The Concert Program
In The Beginning (1966 Grammy for best jazz composition)
The Lords Prayer (Gospel)
Heaven
Don’t Get Down On Your Knees
David Danced Before The Lord
It’s Freedom
The Biggest And Busiest Intersection
Tell Me It’s The truth
Lord’s Prayer
Ninety Nine Percent
Come Sunday
Praise God and Dance
The Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra
Fred Stride- Conductor
Jens Christiansen-Lead Alto Sax/Clarinet
Aaron Hardie-Alto Sax
Mike Braverman-Tenor Sax/Clarinet
Bill Runge-Tenor Sax
Chad Makela-Baritone Sax
Derry Byrne-Lead Trumpet
Kent Wallace-Trumpet
Chris Davis-Trumpet
Tome Shorthouse-Trumpet
Dennis Esson-Lead Trombone
Rod Murray-Trombone
Jeremy Berkman-Trombone
Ross Taggart-Piano
Andre Lachance-Bass
Bernie Arai-Drums
The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra has made an annual event of Ellington Sacred Concerts for some years now and have produced an excellent double CD on Origin Records - hopefully this is the start of an annual Vancouver tradition as well.
Interesting to note that 4 of the folks in the orchestra (Chad, Bill, Andre and Bernie) were at 1067 the next night playing Coltrane's Meditations, an interesting contrast in sacred music!
Thanks to Mike for sharing his experience ...
N.
This was posted to the Duke Ellington list today by Mike Braverman, reproduced here with his permission:
Hi all,
Long time lurker here. Once in a while we have a musical experience we are so proud of that we can't help sharing it with as many people as possible.
On November 19 in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada was a magical performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Music. This was the second time this program has been performed here but the first time I was involved. Last year's audience at St. Andrews-Wesley church was over 1,000 people. This year the same church was full to about 800. Both concerts were benefits for homeless people in Vancouver.
I'll start with the music. Let me start by saying I'm not the most religious person in the world. I was actually brought up with a Jewish background. I even subbed out of a Klezmer gig to participate in one of the rehearsals. (My grandmother would be so proud) I've always been a huge fan of Duke's music and have had the opportunity perform many of his pieces. However, the sacred music he composed is very powerful with its biblical references. It also has a gospel quality and of course many messages about faith and freedom. The way he combines the soloists, choir and big band is extremely effective. Yet, most prominent is the Duke sound with the growly muted brass, extended improvised solos and biting harmonies. Of course, it SWINGS like crazy.
My personal highlight was the chance to play the 2nd tenor chair and emulate Jimmy Hamilton for the night. The clarinet solo from "In The Beginning” is beautiful, yet daunting. It's very high and exposed with some extended cadenzas. It was fun to play though and went well. At least it's in the opening of the concert and I was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the show.
The members of the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra may not be familiar names to most of you. Rest assured that it is a high quality ensemble that has a long history of performing together. This was definitely not the first time this group has performed Ellington's music. The many Ellington pieces we have we have performed include the entire "Black Brown and Beige", "Harlem" "The Nutcracker Suite" and the “Tattooed Bride” (with myself on clarinet.) We've also done a concert of the entire Kenton "Cuban Fire" Suite which was recorded for CBC and premiered Ron Collier's big band orchestration of Oscar Peterson's "Canadian Suite". Needless to say, the band is very well experienced in performing big band music and includes many players that have studied jazz in New York, Chicago, Toronto and the University Of North Texas. Many people feel very proud of the high quality of jazz players in the city of Vancouver.
The vocal soloists included Dee Daniels, a well known singer in the Seattle Area who was also very inspirational in having these concerts re-created. She is a real pro and delivers here songs with authority and feeling. A local, Marcus Mosley is a seasoned musical theater performer who sang great and delivered the many recitative sections with conviction. The tap dace soloist, Alex Dugdale, was flown in from Rochester and brought the house down. How could he not be great tap dancer?- He's studying jazz saxophone at Eastman School of music having grown up in Seattle playing in the Garfield High School jazz program and winning the Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington competition!
The choir was about 12 performers and they were fantastic. The best part is they were well rehearsed and amplified with a microphone for each singer. It gave them more of a vocal jazz sound which was fine for me. It made all the inner harmonies very clear. Among their highlights were Duke’s haunting and beautiful a cappella rendition of "The Lord' Prayer" and some stunning interludes during "It's Freedom"
Finally I have to congratulate Fred Stride on his marvelous work. Fred is a humble guy for all his achievements. Many of you know Fred from this list and might be aware of his writing. However, you should know that practically every note performed last night was transcribed/edited and recopied from Fred's computer. His knowledge and passion of big band writing is unmatched. You have no idea how many big band pieces he has transcribed. Sometimes he has uses old scores and parts and sometimes it's just his ears. I always get a chuckle when he finds copying mistakes in the original parts or changes awkward voicings in the original scores. Many of his charts are with Sierra Publishing but there are many others. Of course, this does not include the many original big band compositions he is constantly producing for his own professional and university band as well as many high school bands. Some of you might know of his modern cutting edge big band writing from his recent CD-"Forward Motion." For those with more of a straight ahead taste, I encourage you to seek out his "Showboat Album". It's a recording of Jerome Kern music for full orchestra (and big band) that really shows off his orchestration skills. Recently, in 2007 he won the International Jazz Arranging Competition and in 2008 he received the Socan/IAJE Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award.
Fred also takes care of all things non-musical. He organizes rehearsals and makes sure the band is paid. He sets up chairs, stands and lights as well as many other duties that go unseen. In the end, I congratulate Fred for producing a very special night of Ellington big band music and I know he'll do it again. For that, we in Vancouver are very lucky.
Thanks for reading,
Mike Braverman
(P.S.-this was cross-posted to other newsgroups.)
From The Concert Program
In The Beginning (1966 Grammy for best jazz composition)
The Lords Prayer (Gospel)
Heaven
Don’t Get Down On Your Knees
David Danced Before The Lord
It’s Freedom
The Biggest And Busiest Intersection
Tell Me It’s The truth
Lord’s Prayer
Ninety Nine Percent
Come Sunday
Praise God and Dance
The Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra
Fred Stride- Conductor
Jens Christiansen-Lead Alto Sax/Clarinet
Aaron Hardie-Alto Sax
Mike Braverman-Tenor Sax/Clarinet
Bill Runge-Tenor Sax
Chad Makela-Baritone Sax
Derry Byrne-Lead Trumpet
Kent Wallace-Trumpet
Chris Davis-Trumpet
Tome Shorthouse-Trumpet
Dennis Esson-Lead Trombone
Rod Murray-Trombone
Jeremy Berkman-Trombone
Ross Taggart-Piano
Andre Lachance-Bass
Bernie Arai-Drums
The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra has made an annual event of Ellington Sacred Concerts for some years now and have produced an excellent double CD on Origin Records - hopefully this is the start of an annual Vancouver tradition as well.
Interesting to note that 4 of the folks in the orchestra (Chad, Bill, Andre and Bernie) were at 1067 the next night playing Coltrane's Meditations, an interesting contrast in sacred music!
Thanks to Mike for sharing his experience ...
N.