Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestr Sacred Music Of Duke Ellington CD

(2-CD set) The tradition of performing the Sacred Music of Duke Ellington in Seattle began in the winter of 1989. The SRJO began with that first concert. Many founding members, including Don Lanphere, Floyd Standifer, Bill Ramsay and Marc Seales, were in

Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra: Nichol Eskridge, James Caddell (vocals); Michael Brockman (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Mark Taylor (alto saxophone); Dennis Haldane (trumpet); Bill Anthony (trombone); Phil Sparks (double bass); Clarence Acox (drums); Dee Daniels, Larry Fuller.
Personnel: Dee Daniels, James Caddell (vocals); Dan Wickham (clarinet, alto saxophone); Hadley Caliman (tenor saxophone); Bill Ramsay (baritone saxophone); Jay Thomas (trumpet); Larry Fuller (piano).
Recording information: First United Methodist Church, Portland, OR; Kirkland Performance Center, Kirkland, WA; University Christian Church, Seattle, WA.
Photographers: Jim Wilke; Steve Robinson .
Arranger: John Hoybye.
If a repertory orchestra is going to do something, it might as well go big. Here, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, in combination with the Oregon Repertory Singers and a handful of guests, take on music from Duke Ellington's three Sacred Music concerts. The performances are flawless, running the range from gospel to jazz to something mighty close to American opera, with nary a false note. And the compositions are of the highest caliber, of course essentially by definition, given their creator. An excellent album, with work rivaled only by the original performances from Duke and his band. However, even Duke would be impressed with their rendition of "In the Beginning God." ~ Adam Greenberg

JazzTimes (pp.107-108) - "[The album] provides solid and remarkable music. The Oregon Repertory Singers sound especially good under their conductor, Gil Seeley..."