| New Release: Will Scruggs Jazz Fellowship "SONG OF SIMEON: A Christmas Journey" (indie 008) Street Date 10/25/2012  |
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| My vision for this recording was to create a musical journey through the deeper themes of the Christmas narrative. Using ancient canticles, hymns, and folk melodies, I chose eleven pieces to formulate a layered chronology that illustrates the profound, spiritual mystery of the radical biblical story of the birth of Christ. Together the eleven tracks make up a programmatic suite in two parts, organized around a line from the biblical Song of Simeon that describes the miracle of Christmas: “A light to enlighten the nations and the Glory of your people Israel.” (Luke 2: 22-35) About Will Scruggs Will Scruggs was born in 1980 in Atlanta, GA, and grew up in Raleigh, NC. He has toured and recorded with Natalie Cole and has been featured as a special guest soloist with Dave Brubeck. He is a top call studio saxophonist in Atlanta, having recorded with the likes of Cee-Lo Green, the Wood Brothers, Dallas Austin, and Jermaine Dupri. He is also an accomplished bandleader, composer, and vocalist who has toured internationally to significant critical acclaim. Musicians: Will Scruggs, soprano and tenor saxophone Brian Hogans, piano Dan Baraszu, guitar Tommy Sauter, bass Marlon Patton, drums Kinah Boto Ayah, percussion with Joe Gransden, trumpet on “Go Down Moses” Horn Section: Joe Gransden, trumpet Ryan Whitehead, clarinet Brian Hogans, alto sax Norm Ficke, tenor sax Wes Funderburk, trombone Travis Cottle, trombone Lee Watts, bass trombone Will Scruggs, baritone sax Track Listing incld. track times and composer : Part I: The Glory 1. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 3:29Music: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, plainsong, Mode 1 Processionale, 15th C; adapt. Thomas Helmore (1811-1890) 2. The Annunciation - Gabriel’s Message 7:07Music: Gabriel's Message, Basque carol, harm. Edgar Pettman (1865-1943) 3. Song of Mary – Magnificat 6:46Setting: Cathedral of the Isles, Betty Carr Pulkingham (b.1928) 4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 7:38Music: God Rest You Merry, melody from Little Book of Christmas Carols, ca. 1850 5. Song of Simeon – Nunc Dimittis 6:27Setting: Ronald Arnatt (b.1930) 6. Go Down, Moses 6:31 Trad. (African-American Spiritual) Part II: The Light 7. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming 3:20Music: Es ist ein Ros, melody from Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1599 8. We Three Kings 6:21Music: Three Kings of Orient, John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820-1891) 9. T’was in the Moon of Wintertime (The Huron Carol) 6:49Music: Une jeune pucelle, French folk melody, 16th century 10. Ideo Gloria 9:30Music: Personent hodie, melody from Piae Cantiones, 1582 11. Joy to the World 7:21Music: Antioch, George Frideric Handel (1655-1759) Gloria, French carol; arr. Edward Shippen Barnes (1877-1958) |
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