Whatever it was that Duke Ellington connected with in creating his Sacred Concerts, it burst forth with extraordinary new music.
Following his 2024 release GIFTS, honoring Billy Strayhorn, trumpeter Dave Douglas continues his exploration of legacy with Transcend, a reimagination of parts of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts, his Black, Brown and Beige Suite, and his Latin American Suite and more.
With guitarist Rafiq Bhatia, drummer Ian Chang, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and cellist Tomeka Reid, trumpeter Douglas presents slinky guitar lines and Smokey trumpet melodies on Come Sunday, a dream-like version of Heaven, an infectious groove on Oclupaca from Duke's Latin American Suite, throughout this new recording finding new ground between this New York All-Star band and Ellington's legacy.
Hear a track from Transcend each weekday morning @ 8:20, another feature made possible by the members of WBGO.
Mon-"Come Sunday"
Tues-"Energy Fields"
Wed-"Gentle Collapse"
Thurs-"Heaven"
Fri-"Oclupaca"
