By far the weakest of the 3 Sacred Concerts. The Ellington Orchestra was decimated by Father Time and Ellington would pass six months later. Some of the material is embarrassingly trite. Alice Babs does her best, but there's not much else to recommend this maudlin exercise.

One of the greatest days of my life at 13 years old, mid 60's wanting to play drums and got invited to a rehearsal for a concert later that night in a large chapel. The first part of the concert was Ellington's Sacred Music (with Bunny Briggs dancing for "David Danced Before The Eyes of The Lord") and "second part consisted of his known and popular songs. I was a bit late and came in the back of the chapel and was racing through the lower level to get upstairs and suddenly out of the corner of my eye I saw Duke Ellington sitting by himself smoking a cigarette, as elegant as we know he was. I stopped dead in my tracks and exclaimed "your Duke Ellington!" He looked at me and said, "Yes I am and who might you be?" I told him and told him what a great fan I was/am. He asked me "so tell me, how does a young man like yourself come by my music?" (long haired hippie looking white boy) I told him my story. He asked me what songs did I know and like. I rattled off all the big tunes, Satin Doll , Take The A Train, etc. I must have been crazy, I told him that there was one composition that he played with his orchestra and I especially liked playing along to, "Things Ain't What They Used To Be". He said to me I should get upstairs and meet some of the band. I met Russel Procope, Paul Gonsalves, Cootie Willams, Bunny Briggs and the drummer Sam Woodyard. who said to me "I hear you play the drums" I very humbly said "I try". Woodyard looked at me and quietly said "I know what you mean, sometimes you got it and sometimes you just ain't sh__". Later that night when I came into the concert and was looking for a seat Russel Procope pointed at me and motioned for me to come up to the front where he pointed to a seat in the front row that had been saved for me. After the intermission Duke came out and said to the audience, " We would like to play for you now some of my compositions that many of you may be familiar with but first we are going to do a song that we often do and is a favorite of a young man I met today, Ladies and Gentlemen, Things Ain't What They used to Be". I don't tell this story often. A lot of people that don't really know the greatness of undoubtedly one of the greatest composers and artists of the 20th century, and a great human being, don't get it. I have and will always love him madly!!

Who is the mad Shirakawa tooter at 17:43? The Mayor? Billionaire Jazz lover? He was definitely OTL!!

please check out Carmen McRae's version....SHE mastered that song

beautiful

Pennies from Heaven sounds like a stock arrangement, with solos by Rex Stewart and Harry Carney, not a Ellington score. Same for Mexicali Rose with solos Lawrence Brown and Johnny Hodges.

The Ellington band at it’s peak, 1940.

Ellington’s theme song for a short period of time in 1940 before he settled on Take the A Train as his signature.

Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing. Senegal Duke Ellington lovers say hello

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Mahalo nui loa. This music is new to me and I started loving Ellington in 1963.

The Duke and his Orchestra never disappoint. Very nice to hear them playing "Pyramid" here in 1963, I think Juan Tizol wrote the tune originally. I love the sound of Johnny Hodges, Cootie Williams and Harry Carney, who were in the Duke's orchestra on and off for decades. Nice solo from Paul Gonsalves in "In A Sentimental Mood". How sad that the quality of music has declined so badly since the Duke's passing in 1974. The popular music of the last 40 years or so is mostly rubbish, so-called artists make mega bucks and most of them can't even sing, play an instrument or write a decent tune. There needs to be a re-incarnation of Duke Ellington.

Thank you Duke.

By the way Duke has 1/4white 1/4indigenous blood

The zenith of American music; nothing else compares to the genius of the Duke and his ilk!

Many very interesting things here. Duke and Grappelli had recorded before together ("Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session", one of the best footnotes on each men's career- don't miss this!), even though none of the tunes on this video are on that album. Additionally, this must be one of the last footages of Ellington, who would pass only after a few months. And it celebrates a respectful and eventful meeting between of one of Jazz' greatest womanizers with a pioneer gay Jazz giant. Music brings people together.

Fantastico! Quella era una band di fuoriclasse, di virtuosi del proprio strumento. Tutti loro erano campioni assoluti nel creare con straordinaria coesione artistica la musica più spettacolare di sempre.

It can’t be any better, really!

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Priceless to hear this. Cootie Williams was a superb trumpeter, and could also do the growling style too. Johnny Hodges was one of the greatest ever alto sax players (did soprano sax too) and died soon after this was recorded in 1970. Duke Ellington was brilliant, and by all accounts a very generous man, albeit hard on his son Mercer for some reason. I don't know why, but I don't like the Paul Gonsalves solos.

Incredible music

Thrilled to see this from '69-the year I was born! What fantastic music-Duke truly #1

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Meraviglioso… Dopo la versione del Second Sacred Concert, che a mio parere rimane insuperabile quanto a magia, questa mi sembra l’esecuzione del sommo Duca più meditativa e spirituale; una versione ricca di suggestioni, soluzioni armoniche fantastiche, mai più e ripetute in nessun altra registrazione.

Phenomenal🔥🔥🔥🔥

superman a la trompette=cat anderson!!!

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Mi madre y yo estuvimos en este concierto en las primeras filas

That guy had talent and so did his band! I think they made some great contributions to classical era of Americana music. From Jazz to big band and swing. They all play so well and in perfectly timed unison for such a large band.

Years ago I heard an Ellington song "Cindy with two left feet" apart of the Jump for Joy musical. Would anyone happen to know if there were any recordings of it?

Ah yeah the Duke of Ellington...Jazz at it's ultimate . Along with Cootie and Cat..Man they be the Deal of bebop and Jazz.

Quelle grâce !

"We know that Bunny Briggs is the most super-Leviathanic, rhythmaturgically, synchopated, tapsthematicianisonist."

Ouaw c'est brillant et musical j'adore 🎉

He play violin as mack jafa wanderfol

What an impromptu honour for the band to play live with a Jazz legend in person. Not many can say I played with The Duke. ❤

Eine Legende und Unikum!!!!

The great Rufus Jones absolutely tears up that drum kit at 21:34.

Perhaps my favorite of his solo piano pieces. I love the recording from his last recorded concert, “Eastbourne Performance.” Despite a few clinkers the emotion is palpable.

Just the greatest 🙂♥️

thank you for sharing this. i’ve performed this piece before (from only reading the sheet music). really grateful to hear how Duke actually played it. ❤️🧡💛

Just the greatest 🙂♥️

Thank you so much for posting this rare and beautiful performance!

Great Big Band.

😂

sensible arm´8U12. sensible relativa GREGORIANOS /1A sin

With sickening indignities like the ones uttered by this white person at 8:53 it is a wonder how Duke didn't lose his sensibilities (let alone his temper).

I first heard this song on a compilation of performances from the Monterey Jazz Festival, Foolishly, I sold this. If I get lucky, I’ll find it again….😀