Search - Big Band de Lausanne :: Duke Ellington's Sacred Music

With the celebration of Duke Ellington's 100th birthday in 1999, the season of tribute albums gave much fruit. Among the tributes to Duke, the Big Band de Lausanne's live recording of his Sacred Music at the Lugano Cathedral should not be passed up. Consisting mostly of Swiss musicians, Big Band de Lausanne provides a solid base for some sexy, snake-charmer playing by trumpeter Jon Faddis. His solo on "The Shepherd" preaches to the flock with medicine-man intensity, worthy of Ellington's favorite, Cat Anderson. Michele Hendricks, daughter of famed vocalist Jon Hendricks, and Allan Harris are the antidote to a broken heart in "My Love," and we should all be so lucky if lounge singers are this good in "Heaven." On the other hand, the Big Band de Lausanne's choir seems strangely underprepared for the complexities of their role as bearers of Ellington's faith. Their tone is often classically delivered, showing a lack of understanding for jazz vocal style. But fear not--the energy and emotion required to tackle these great 20th-century American works is here in plenty. --Alexis Odell