The Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra (SJO) is doing more than bringing in two stellar Canadian jazz artists for their upcoming concert — they’ve got a whole choir joining the show.
The SJO’s upcoming concert titled When the Spirit Moves You: Ellington’s Sacred Music features guest artists Fred Stride and Dee Daniels and the Aurora Voce choir conducted by Dr. Jennifer Lang (PhD).
The concert will take place at the Broadway Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14.
“Music, at its very best, should lift people up out of their troubles, even if just for a little while,” SJO artistic director Dean McNeill said. “My hope is that this music will do that for the people who come.”
The unique collaborative concert will include work from the legendary jazz artist Duke Ellington’s sacred repertoire, arranged by the acclaimed Canadian conductor Stride for a joint vocal soloist-choral-orchestral performance.
Dee Daniels will be a featured soloist for both the Ellington selections and a selection of her own music. Daniels is also speaking at a special University of Saskatchewan lecture series event on Friday.
McNeill lauded Daniels as a speaker and a performer that Saskatoon is fortunate to host.
“Dee is a magnificent singer, first and foremost. I’ve been a fan of hers for many years,” McNeill said. “She is a real jazz singer through and through.”
While Ellington is much more known for his tremendous jazz compositions, he premiered three concerts of sacred music later in his career. These concerts featured both previous compositions by Ellington as well as a number of new songs that blended spirituality and jazz in a unique style.
Although many Ellington fans might disagree, numerous sources have said Ellington himself called his first Concert of Sacred Music — both a concert and a subsequent album — “the most important thing I’ve ever done.”
A self-described fan of Ellington and his music, McNeill said his sacred works include fascinating and moving songs.
“I love the fact (Ellington’s) music is beyond category … I think it is very important music from multiple perspectives,” he said. “Music that promotes this idea of compassion, promotes empathy and sympathy and humanity … is exactly what the world needs in this day and age.”
Between acclaimed conductor and composer Stride, renowned vocalist Daniels, and the talented local choir, McNeill and the SJO have recruited a significant amount of outside talent to make this concert sing — both proverbially and literally.
It’s an exciting opportunity to hear the work of some of Canada’s best, taking on the music of one of history’s best in Ellington.
“I find it interesting when artists venture into that realm of spirituality,” McNeill said. “I think all music is, in some ways, the integration of mind, body and spirit, but when music is really connecting well with everyone in the room … it’s very special.”
When the Spirit Moves You: Ellington’s Sacred Music takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 at the Broadway Theatre. Tickets can be purchased online through saskatoonjazzorchestra.com or broadwaytheatre.ca.
