DUKE ELLINGTON THE CENTENNIAL EDITION [Part 4]
The Three Sacred Concerts (1965/1968/1973) 3 CDs
DISCs 18 – 20
Label: RCA Legacy
Format:Mp3@320



In the last years of Duke Ellington's life, the jazz maestro explored the spiritual side of his extraordinary musical gifts. Between 1965 and 1973, Ellington wrote three massive works that combined elements of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel, blues and dance.
He called them his "sacred concerts," and they were performed in churches and cathedrals around the world. He said it was the most important music he'd ever written.
Because of the scale of the music and the sheer number of artists needed to execute each work, Ellington's sacred concerts have rarely been performed in the 30 years since his death in 1974.


Disc 18

1 In the Beginning God 19:59 *
2 Tell Me It's the Truth 2:47
3 Come Sunday 3:53 *
4 The Lord's Prayer 2:42 *
5 Come Sunday 6:05 *
6 Will You Be There?/Ain't Butthe One 4:41 *
7 New World A-Comin' 8:25 *
8 David Danced Before the Lord 6:29 *
9 Ninety Nine Percent 1:52
10 My Mother, My Father and Love 3:57
11 New World A-Comin' 8:18
12 A Christmas Surprise 3:50
13 A Christmas Surprise 3:28

* Duke Ellingtons Concert of Sacred Music


Recorded at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church on December 26, 1965.
Released; 1966

[/size]Personnel
Duke Ellington – piano
Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams - trumpet
Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Quentin Jackson - trombone
Chuck Connors - bass trombone
Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton - alto saxophone, clarinet
Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone
Harry Carney - baritone saxophone
John Lamb - bass
Louie Bellson - drums
Brock Peters, Ester Marrow, Jimmy McPhail - vocals
The Herman McCoy Choir - choir
Bunny Briggs - tapdancing (track 10)

Disc 19

1 Praise God 3:09
2 Supreme Being 11:46
3 Heaven 4:54
4 Something 'Bout Believing 8:14
5 Almighty God 6:33
6 The Shepherd 7:10
7 It's Freedom 13:02
8 Meditation 3:12
9 The Biggest and Busiest Intersection 3:58
10 T.G.T.T. (Too Good to Title) 2:27
11 Don't Get Down on Your Knees to Pray Until You Have Forgotten Everyone 5:17

Second Sacred Concert



Recorded at Fine Studio in New York on January 22 (tracks 3, 5, 7, 10 ) and February 19 (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11), 1968.
Released: 1968 Originally Released on the Prestige label

Personnel
Duke Ellington – piano, narration
Cat Anderson, Mercer Ellington, Money Johnson, Herb Jones, Cootie Williams - trumpet
Lawrence Brown, Buster Cooper, Bennie Green - trombone
Chuck Connors - bass trombone
Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone
Harry Carney - baritone saxophone
Jeff Castleman - bass
Sam Woodyard, Steve Little - drums
Alice Babs, Devonne Gardner, Trish Turner, Roscoe Gill - vocals
The AME Mother Zion Church Choir, Choirs Of St Hilda's and St. Hugh's School, Central Connecticut State College Singers, The Frank Parker Singers - choirs

Disc 20



1 Father Forgive 2:48 *
2 Praise God and Dance 10:58 *
3 Introduction ( by Sir Colin Crowe) 1:33
4 Introduction (by Duke Ellington) 0:59
5 The Lord's Prayer/My Love Ellington 7:49
6 Is God a Three-Letter Word for Love? (Pt. 1) 4:27
7 Is God a Three-Letter Word for Love? (Pt. 2) 3:46
8 The Brotherhood 5:34
9 Hallelujah 3:29
10 Every Man Prays in His Own Language 11:09
11 Ain't Nobody Nowhere Nothin'Without God 4:17
12 The Majesty of God 7:14

* Tracks 1 & 2 From Second Sacred Concert
Recorded at Fine Studio in New York on January 22 (track 2 ) and February 19 (track 1), 1968.

Third Sacred Concert


Recorded at Westminster Abbey, London on October 24, 1973.

Personnel
Duke Ellington – piano, narration
Johnny Coles, Mercer Ellington, Barrie Lee Hall, Money Johnson - trumpet
Art Baron, Vince Prudente - trombone
Chuck Connors - bass trombone
Harold Minerve - alto saxophone, flute
Russell Procope - alto saxophone
Harold Ashby - clarinet, tenor saxophone
Percy Marion - tenor saxophone
Harry Carney - baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
Joe Benjamin - bass
Quentin White - drums
Alice Babs, Tony Watkins - vocals
John Alldis Choir -