Sat, Jun 10, 2023 2:00 PM / Sun, Jun 11, 2023 7:00 PM
DUKE ELLINGTON | Music from the Sacred Concerts |
MARY LOU WILLIAMS | Music from Mary Lou's Mass |
JOHN CLAYTON | SACRED DREAMS, RIGHTEOUS THEMES |
Grant Gershon, conductor
John Clayton, conductor
Carmen Lundy, soloist
John Holiday, soloist
Daniel Rich, soloist
Reenah Golden, spoken word artist
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
80 singers
Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams were giants of jazz who never stopped searching for new means of expression. Inspired by their faith, both created major sacred choral works that grew out of the African American church tradition and pushed against the boundaries of both sacred music and jazz. Bassist, composer, arranger and producer, John Clayton, formerly principal bassist with the Amsterdam Philharmonic and co-founder of the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, premieres his new work backed by Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, his powerful 19-piece band. This concert is a celebration of distinctive music created by three American originals.