31st Anniversary Concert of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music

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, gospel choir, and tap dancers.

For the past 30 years Earshot Jazz has presented an annual concert of Ellington’s Sacred Music. This year’s concert features the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and this December, SRJO again welcomes to the stage special guest vocalist, Dr. Stephen Newby, faculty member at Seattle Pacific University. Also returning for this year’s concert is vocalist Nichol Veneé Eskridge (who is featured on SRJO’s Sacred Music of Duke Ellington CD), plus tap-dancer dancer (and SRJO saxophonist) Alex Dugdale, and the Northwest Chamber Chorus under Director Mark Kloepper.