Duke Orchestra fait revivre l'un des plus grands jazzmen de l'histoire.
Tout au long de sa longue carrière, Duke Ellington a marqué le XXe siècle de son empreinte, construisant son œuvre autour des valeurs d’ouverture, de respect, d’amour, de tolérance, de bienveillance et bien sûr de fraternité. Mêlant l’esprit du blues à l’invention orchestrale la plus raffinée, le Duke a toujours défendu l’idée d’un art pour tous, universel, délivrant un langage original et intemporel, bâti sur l’imagination, l’intelligence et l’esthétisme sonore, par-delà les styles, les époques et les frontières.
Composé d’un très beau plateau de solistes, le Duke Orchestra guide le public en terres ellingtoniennes dans un voyage époustouflant et l’emporte dans un tourbillon d’énergie et de contrastes. Laurent Mignard a minutieusement transcrit le répertoire à partir des enregistrements originaux à la recherche du parfait équilibre des timbres et d’un swing irréprochable. Le Duke Orchestra est incontestablement une grande référence du jazz.
(Duke Orchestra brings to life one of the greatest jazz players in history.
Throughout his long career, Duke Ellington left his mark on the 20th century, building his work around the values of openness, respect, love, tolerance, benevolence and of course fraternity. Mixing the spirit of the blues with the most refined orchestral invention, the Duke has always defended the idea of an art for all, universal, delivering an original and timeless language, built on imagination, intelligence and sound aesthetics, beyond styles, eras and borders.
Made up of a very fine line-up of soloists, the Duke Orchestra guides the audience into Ellingtonian lands on a breathtaking journey and takes them into a whirlwind of energy and contrasts. Laurent Mignard has meticulously transcribed the repertoire from the original recordings in search of the perfect balance of timbres and impeccable swing. The Duke Orchestra is undoubtedly a great reference in jazz.)
An exhilarating story told in dance, SUGAR HILL is set to the music of the genre-defying collaboration between jazz icons bandleader/composer Duke Ellington and gay composer Billy Strayhorn in a captivating way that has never been done before.
SUGAR HILL reveals the glamour of the 1930s as seen through the lens of the nonconformist daughter of a high-society Black family in Manhattan and her fantastic dreamworld in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Harlem. A jazz-steeped reimagining of the classic tale, this Nutcracker dance-story sends a stirring message that champions individuality and the journey to find the power of your unique self: “Go find what makes you different to find your magic”.
With a libretto and concept by Jessica Swan, this original production is directed with choreography by Emmy Award Winner and Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award Nominee Joshua Bergasse, with choreography by Jade Hale-Christofi. The show features a world-renowned creative team of dance superstars, with additional choreography by Caleb Teicher and Emmy Award nominee Jon Boogz, and dance consultation from Lifetime Achievement Tony Award Winner Graciela Daniele. Orchestrations and Arrangements are by Grammy® Award Winner John Clayton and three-time Tony Award® Nominee Larry Blank. Casting by Mungioli Theatricals, Inc.
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Ellington’s wonderful Sacred Music is both serious and swinging. It is a reverent and hip body of jazz composition, written late in his career, for jazz big band, vocal and instrumental soloists, and tap dancers.
For the past 30+ years Earshot Jazz and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra have partnered to present an annual concert of Ellington’s Sacred Music. The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Michael Brockman (who co-founded SRJO alongside Clarence Acox Jr.), features the 17-piece big band with trumpeters Jay Thomas, Nathan Breedlove, Michael Van Bebber, and Brad Allison; trombonists Dan Marcus, Scott Brown, Jerome Smith, Bill Anthony, and David Bentley. Rhythm includes Randy Halbertstadt (piano), D’Vonne Lewis (drums), Milo Peterson (guitar), and Phil Sparks (bass). This year’s vocal soloists are Robert Neal (baritone voice) and Nichol Eskridge (alto voice), the tap dancer is Cipher Goings and the two choirs are Sound of the Northwest directed by Vanessa Bruce, and Northwest Chamber Chorus directed by Jeremy Edelstein.
Note about the livestream option:
Tickets to livestream and in-person concerts are sold separately. At the time of purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with a url link to access the concert stream. A reminder email will be sent out shortly before the event begins.
The livestream concert begins at 7:30PM PST. Ticket-holders will be able to access the concert as a “video on demand” with the same link, once the initial livestream concert has aired, until January 10, 2024. Once the concert has aired live, please allow at least 24 hours for viewing as our staff needs time to set up the “video on demand” manually. Thank you for your understanding.
About Earshot Jazz
Earshot Jazz cultivates a vibrant jazz community to ensure the legacy and progression of the art form by engaging audiences, celebrating artists, and supporting arts education.
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