2016-08-01
There needs to be a little truth in advertising here, as while the music is culled from Duke Ellington’s three famed sacred concerts, the material is presented by Fette Hupe’s Big Band, with Jorn Marcussen-Wulff as the artistic director and voices by Claudia Burghard, Joachim Rust and Gary Winters. The band itself is clean, concise and impressive, actually sounding fresher and tighter than the Duke originally delivered from his pulpit. “In The Beginning God” includes Winters’ spoken word which still sounds powerful. The vocal ensemble sounds convincing on “Will You Be Three” and “Something ‘Bout Believing” and Felix Petry’s tap dancing is a joy on “David Danced.” Even for non-believers, it will be hard not to be moved by Winters’ recitation of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Rewardingly ecumenical both in faith and music.
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