Jazz Ensemble to Perform Duke Ellington Songs at Concert
The Truman State University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Tim AuBuchon, will present a performance of the Duke Ellington album, “The Far East Suite” at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 in Baldwin Auditorium.
The performance will feature nine songs off the 16-track album. The concert is free and open to the public.
Released in 1966, “The Far East Suite” illustrates the story of a concert tour Ellington and the members of his orchestra took through the Middle East in 1962. There, he and his orchestra encountered a military coup while traveling through Baghdad, as well as seeing the majestic statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, in the city of Harissa, Lebanon. Both of these experiences, along with countless others that Ellington and his cohorts lived through during their travels through the Middle East, inspired much of the music heard throughout the album.
Ellington, along with his friend and co-composer Billy Strayhorn, mixed the musical impressions that were gathered during the Middle East tour, and combined these with Ellington’s signature smooth sounds, to create an unique experience for his listeners.
The Truman Jazz Ensemble is the main jazz performance group at Truman. The 16-18 member ensemble performs numerous on and off campus performances throughout the year. The group has been featured with several jazz luminaries, including Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Bill Watrous, Randy Brecker and Clark Terry.
Contact Tim AuBuchon, director of the Truman Jazz Ensemble, at 785.4412 for more information.
The performance will feature nine songs off the 16-track album. The concert is free and open to the public.
Released in 1966, “The Far East Suite” illustrates the story of a concert tour Ellington and the members of his orchestra took through the Middle East in 1962. There, he and his orchestra encountered a military coup while traveling through Baghdad, as well as seeing the majestic statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, in the city of Harissa, Lebanon. Both of these experiences, along with countless others that Ellington and his cohorts lived through during their travels through the Middle East, inspired much of the music heard throughout the album.
Ellington, along with his friend and co-composer Billy Strayhorn, mixed the musical impressions that were gathered during the Middle East tour, and combined these with Ellington’s signature smooth sounds, to create an unique experience for his listeners.
The Truman Jazz Ensemble is the main jazz performance group at Truman. The 16-18 member ensemble performs numerous on and off campus performances throughout the year. The group has been featured with several jazz luminaries, including Slide Hampton, Jon Faddis, Bill Watrous, Randy Brecker and Clark Terry.
Contact Tim AuBuchon, director of the Truman Jazz Ensemble, at 785.4412 for more information.
