Program Notes
– Dance of the Spirit

DANCE OF THE SPIRIT
In memory of all the victims of this terrible racist attack and a Celebration of Life and Hope

In a sentimental mood Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
George Caldwell piano
Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and leader of a jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based in New York City from the mid-1920s and gained a national profile through his orchestra’s appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem.”In a Sentimental Mood” is a jazz composition by Duke Ellington. He composed the piece in 1935 and recorded it with his orchestra during the same year.

Clair de Lune
Beau Soir Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Jonathan Golove, cello
George Caldwell, piano
Debussy originally wrote the piano pieces of Suite bergamasque around 1890, but made many changes before he published it in 1905. Among those changes was the title; there was no “Clair de lune” in the original version. Clair de Lune: Suite Bergamasque The suite was published in 1905 by the French composer Claude Debussy. This means it was written in the 20th Century era of music, also referred to as the modern era Debussy likely penned the original vocal version of BEAU SOIR, in 1878 while in his mid-teens, setting a poem based on a poem by his friend, Paul Bourget (1852 – 1935) “Beau soir”, written 1881, This title is translated “Beautiful Evening,” and the poem continues to describe such an evening, then explores the need to relish such experiences in light of the brevity of human life.

Orbit Philip Glass (1937)
Jonathan Golove, cello
Melodies for saxophone (1995) Philip Glass (1937)
Wildy Zumwalt, saxophone
Orbit is a work composed by acclaimed minimal composer Philip Glass for Solo Cello. Orbit was commissioned by Damian Woetzel and premiered on the 22nd of April 2013, in a performance by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and dancer Lil Buck at Le Poisson Rouge in New York. The performance was a celebration of the collaboration between an incredible young dancer, an unbelievable cellist and one of the most accomplished composers of the modern day. With a softly evolving melody that begins as a basic pattern before turning back on itself and transforming. Orbit is the perfect soundtrack to a marriage of virtuoso musicianship, expressive dance and achingly fender solo instrumental composition.

The Glass “Melodies” were written for Jean Genet’s play Prisoner Of Love, adapted by Joanne Akalaitis for the New York Theater Work shop in 1995. Several of the melodies were also used in his Saxophone Quartet Concerto written the same year for the Rasher Saxophone Quartet

The Moon is an Address Daniel Haskin (2022)
Dan Haskin, poet and electronic artist

INTERMISSION

New York Donald Ray Brown (1954)
George Caldwell, piano
Donald Ray Brown is an American jazz pianist and producer.

Isfahan Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)
George Caldwell, piano
This arrangement, first known as Elf, was originally written sometimes in 1963. It was first recorded in New York on July 18, 1963. The title had been changed to Isfahan sometime before the Duke Ellington band’s performance on the English television program Jazz 625 on February 20, 1964.While on tour in Europe during this year, Ellington introduced several pieces as Impressions of the Far East. At that time the suite consisted of Amad, Agra, Bluebird of Delhi, and Depk. Agra and Bluebird pf Delhi, written by Strayhorn and Amad and Depk were written by Ellington. As the notion for a full length suite began to take shape, several more pieces were composed: Ad Lip on Nippon and A Tourist Point of View, both composed by Ellington and Mount Harissa and Blue Pepper, possibly both composed by Ellington and Strayhorn (scores have not been located for these two movements, hence, authorship is in question) Isfahan was recorded on December 20, 1966 to be included in the Far East Suite. This is an Alto saxophone feature , written to showcase Johnny Hodges. The Alto saxophone part is as-written by Billy Strayhorn.

Nature Boy Eden Ahbez (1908-1995) written for Nat King Cole
George Caldwell, piano
Written for Nat King Cole. George Alexander Aberle, known as eden ahbez, was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s to 1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential in the hippie movement. He was known to friends simply as ahbe

A TRAIN Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967)
George Caldwell, piano
In 1939 Ellington made his first recording of a Strayhorn composition; it was the first of many, including the highly popular “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Chelsea Bridge,” an excellent example of the composer’s refined, impressionistic style

Satin Doll (1953) Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
Sophisticated Lady (1932) Duke Ellington (1899-1974)
George Caldwell, piano
Jonathan Golove, cello