Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts (2000)

The whole package BUT...

This DVD has the whole package going for it. The music was very well recorded. (I won't get into the technical aspects of it.) The picture looked great as well...but, and I hate to admit this being a music lover and an Ellington music lover, the Duke's music was good but the film was really boring to me. It wasn't just the religious aspect of the film either-I think I might have been bored to tears anyway. (Apologies to all those religious folks out there.) I found myself listening to the instrumentals and the introductions and moving on.
My suggestion is stay with his records or CDs or tapes July 5, 2003

music goes on a life of its own even after its creator(s)'s

people gripe about this release with(out) reason. and it's their right. however, it's unfair not only to the musicianship of all those associated with this performance but also to ellington himself to lower this work. indeed, isn't the dream of any music-maker to create music that lives forever, or at least beyond the confines of the creator's own life? no one has a problem with those cd's titled beethoven...

i do think this dvd is a fine piece of work, representative of a type of ellington who fuses jazz and classical for the betterment of the MUSIC! December 3, 2001

No Duke Here

This Image Entertainment DVD is a fraud. No Duke Ellington. No Duke Ellington Orchestra. Not one of his great sidemen. Just a mediocre European big band, an embarrassing European choir and four American soloists--none of whom had any association with Duke. Don't believe any of the hype that comes with it. May 23, 2001

More reviews at Amazon.com ...