'Promise of the New World' of New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Honors 'I Have a Dream' 50th Anniversary With Orchestral Works of Duke Ellington Sept. 27-29

Duke Ellington: Black, Brown, and Beige 

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra 

JoAnn Falletta, Conductor 

Naxos 8.559737 (2013)

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was a Jazz and Classical Musician who is featured at AfriClassical.com  The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's 2013 Naxos CD features Three Black Kings.

Duke Ellington (Daily Record)

Daily Record

Martin Luther King Jr. tribute presented by NJSO

Sept. 6, 2013

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra opens its 2013-14 season with a program that pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Titled “Promise of the New World,” the evening’s music includes work by the great African-American composer, songwriter and bandleader Duke Ellington, and the premiere of a work composed by jazz pianist Geri Allen, performing as soloist.

Continuing those nods to African-American influence on music traditions is Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”

...

Ellington is best known as a bandleader behind such Cold War-era smash hits as “Take the A-Train” and “Satin Doll.” (“Take the A-Train,” although forever associated with Ellington, was actually written by his arranger, Billy Strayhorn.) But Ellington viewed his own music in a much wider context, preferring to describe it only as American music. In addition to his band and small ensemble arrangements he also composed for full orchestra, including famous works like “Black, Brown and Beige” and “Three Black Kings.” The latter work, featuring a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in its final movement, is featured on the NJSO program, along with an arrangement of Ellington’s band composition, “New World A-Comin’.”

Ellington wasn’t content with sneaking into the orches tral repertoire with safely conservative compositions, but rather stormed in as himself — tuneful, larger-than-life, fully honest about his place in the classical repertoire as an early, accepted black composer heavily influenced by popular jazz and blues. His music takes chances, makes demands and offers a casual but honest political view. Yet, probably because of his experience as a popular entertainer, it remains easily accessible.

Performances of the “Promise of the New World” program will be 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, One Centre Street, Newark, and at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick.

More information on the program can be found at the orchestra’s website, www.njsymphony.org, or by calling 800-255-3476.