Duke Ellington Series: "New Orleans Suite"

The Zurich Jazz Orchestra continues its in-depth exploration of Duke Ellington's music and presents one of his great late masterpieces: the "New Orleans Suite", recorded in 1970 and awarded a Grammy in 1971 in the "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance" category.

Writing in Down Beat magazine more than 50 years ago, Dan Morgenstern said in his album review: "The music is evocative, highly atmospheric and marked throughout by the gorgeous ensemble textures that set this orchestra apart from every other big band in the history of jazz."

Even today, this album remains epoch-making and great. It is an emotional tribute to the roots of jazz, seen through the nostalgic and sentimental eyes of an ageing Duke Ellington.

The rest of the programme features highlights from other later Ellington suites, such as "The Far East Suite", "Such Sweet Thunder" and "Peer Gynt".

Conductor

Ed Partyka

Woodwinds

Reto Anneler as, lead

Lukas Heuss as

Adrian Mira cl

Tobias Pfister ts

Nils Fischer bari

Trumpets

Nicola Bernhard tp, lead

Raphael Kalt/Daniel Schenker tp

Wolfgang Häuptli tp

Bernhard Schoch tp

Trombones

Adrian Weber tb, lead

Maurus Twerenbold tb

Jonas Inglin btb

Rhythm section

Gregor Müller p

Patrick Sommer b

Noah Weber d