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Duke Ellington's Concert of Sacred Music
by Chuck Lenatti
In 1964, Dean D.J. Bartlett and the Reverend John S. Yaryan invited Duke Ellington and his orchestra to present a concert to consecrate the renovated Grace Cathedral on Nob Hill in San Francisco during a year-long festival of Grace. At first, Duke demurred. In his autobiography, Music Is My Mistress (Da Capo, 1976), Ellington explained why he changed his mind: It has been said once that a man who could not play the organ or any ...
Continue ReadingAlice Babs: Vi minns Alice Babs
by Chris Mosey
This six-CD box set pays homage to Alice Babs, the Swedish jazz singer who died at the age of 90 in February, 2014. A soprano with a three octave range, she sang with Duke Ellington, most notably in his so-called sacred concerts. At the start of her career, in 1940, at the tender age of 16, Babs (real name Nilsson) was vilified in the Swedish press as a slyna, the politest translation of which is “hussy."
Continue ReadingAlice Babs: Don't Be Blue
by Dave Nathan
Over a career of more than 60 years, Swedish vocalist Alice Babs has applied her delectable vocal chords to a variety of euphony including church music by Mozart and Duke Ellington, she worked with the latter in the 1960's, yodeling, and just regular jazz. Her 4th album for the Prophone label falls into the latter category. Joined by long time composer and band leader, Nils Lindberg, and the group Third Saxophones, a quintet of sax players, and a rhythm section, ...
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