Ellington

Description

The late Al Jarreau celebrates Duke Ellington in an album recorded live and with a large ensemble shortly before his passing. This album is the result of a collaboration with the NDR Bigband, conducted by Jörg Achim Keller, and pays tribute to the work of Duke Ellington. Jarreau and Keller carefully selected the tracks that resonated most with Jarreau's unique approach. The album includes iconic pieces such as "I’m Beginning to See the Light" and "I Got It Bad (and that Ain’t Good)", where Jarreau and the orchestra respond harmoniously to one another, giving space to the soloists to express their creativity. Jarreau also explored various musical styles on this album: some tracks adopt a pure ballad style, like "I Got It Bad (and that Ain’t Good)", while others, such as "Lush Life" and "Come Sunday", flirt with pop and R&B. Each track on the album was crafted to capture the very essence of Jarreau, with palpable energy and emotion in every note. Ellington was recorded live, which gives it a rare authenticity and spontaneity, allowing the chemistry between Jarreau and the NDR Bigband to shine. A deeply moving posthumous album!