The Coastal Jazz Association presents a tribute to Duke Ellington on April 27 which will feature special guest saxophonist, Sam Skelton.
As a woodwind doubler, Skelton is well versed in any genre of music. His grasp of saxophone, clarinet and flute has enabled him to remain very busy in live performance as well as in the studio.
This event will be celebrating the legacy left by one of America’s greatest musicians/composers for what would have been his 109th birthday (born April 29, 1899).
Every year The Savannah Jazz Orchestra, under the co-leadership of Teddy Adams and Randy Reese, features both unfamiliar compositions and special guest artists as a part of enhancing the genius of every Ellington concert.
This will be CJA’s 22nd year paying tribute to Ellington.
A native of Conyers, Skelton has been active on the Atlanta music scene for well over a decade. Skelton graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University with a degree in jazz studies. During his course of study at GSU, he was a Montgomery Music Scholar and a two-time fellowship recipient to the Aspen Music Festival.
In addition to being a sideman on over 120 compact discs, he has performed and/or soloed with The London Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony, The Atlanta Pops, The Peachtree Pops, The Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and The Cobb Symphony Orchestra as well as numerous local high school and civic ensembles.
World Premiers include James Oliverio’s Children of a Common Mother, Lee Johnson’s Ora Pro Mi: Concerto for Winds Soloist (clarinet, flute and soprano saxophone) and Seaside Symphony (clarinet and soprano saxophone soloist).
Skelton also played the premier recording of Ora Pro Mi and Seaside Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Skelton is currently Director of Jazz Studies and Lecturer in Saxophone at Kennesaw State University. He is also artist-in-residence at The University Of Georgia for the Jazz Department.
Those in attendance will also bear witness to Priscilla Albergottie-Williams, who is the featured vocalist for the Savannah Jazz Orchestra. Albergottie-Williams, one of the finest vocalists in this area, has been performing both church and secular music and does them in superb equilibrium.
She performed with trombonist Teddy Adams for years and was the featured vocalist with the Savannah Jazz Orchestra. She can be heard on SJO: live recording “Satin Doll,” the music of Duke Ellington and Johnny Mercer.
This special concert will be held on April 27 at 5 p.m. at the Armstrong Atlantic State University “Armstrong Center.”
It is free and open to the public and is presented by the Coastal Jazz Association through a generous grant from the City of Savannah Cultural Affairs Department.
For more information call (912) 675-5419 or go to www.coastal-jazz.org.
