American Composers Orchestra, Maurice Peress – Four Symphonic Works By Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington – Four Symphonic Works By Duke Ellington
Performed by American Composers Orchestra • Conducted by Maurice Peress

A landmark orchestral project reimagining Duke Ellington’s expansive symphonic vision, Four Symphonic Works brings together jazz and classical forces in a bold, richly textured celebration of one of America’s greatest composers. Under the direction of Maurice Peress and featuring orchestration contributions from Luther Henderson, these works bridge the worlds of jazz, concert music, and spiritual expression.

Spanning nearly an hour of large-scale compositions, the album highlights Ellington’s ambition to elevate jazz into symphonic form without losing its emotional depth or rhythmic vitality. From the deeply spiritual sweep of Black, Brown And Beige Suite to the monumental narrative arc of Thee Black Kings, each piece unfolds with cinematic scope and cultural weight. Performances by jazz luminaries such as Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, and Ron Carter bring authenticity and improvisational fire to the orchestral setting.

This is Ellington at his most expansive - refined, spiritual, and uncompromisingly visionary.

Tracklist:

1 - Black, Brown And Beige Suite: Work Song – Come Sunday – Light (18:04)
 Alto Saxophone – Frank Wess
 Orchestrated By – Maurice Peress
 Trombone – Richard Chamberlain

2 - Thee Black Kings (Les Trois Rois Noirs): King Of The Magi – King Solomon – Martin Luther King (19:11)
 Orchestrated By – Luther Henderson
 Tenor/Soprano Saxophone – Jimmy Heath

3 - New World-A-Comin’ For Piano Solo And Orchestra (13:47)
 Clarinet – Stephen Hart
 Orchestrated By – Maurice Peress
 Piano – Sir Roland Hanna

4 - Harlem For Jazz Band And Orchestra (15:23)
 Bass – Ron Carter
 Clarinet – Bill Easley
 Drums – Butch Miles
 Orchestrated By – Luther Henderson, Maurice Peress
 Trumpet – Jon Faddis