There will be a jazzy swing to our summer concert on Saturday 29 June (at 7.30 pm) in St Mary’s Parish Church, Woburn. Danesborough Chorus will perform Will Todd’s Mass in Blue and other jazz classics. The concert will be conducted by Ian Smith and accompanied by the Jessica Bullen Jazz Quartet and soloist Hilary Cronin (soprano).
Will Todd is one of the UK’s most sought-after composers. His Mass in Blue is an upbeat setting of the Latin mass for choir. Written in 2003 it follows in the tradition of Dave Brubeck’s jazz-tinged oratorios. It blends jazz and blues with choral singing, has superb pace and has been rapturously received by audiences around the world. There are gospel and blues for the Kyrie, lively pulsating rhythms for the Gloria, a haunting ballad for the Agnus Dei, and a return to the upbeat Credo for a grand finale. Will’s reputation has taken off in recent years. His anthem The Call of Wisdom was commissioned for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and his arrangement of Amazing Grace was performed at President Obama’s Inauguration Day service.
The programme also includes the collection Fly me to the moon and other jazz classics including five classic jazz standards, superbly arranged in a vocal jazz style by Gwyn Arch.
We will also perform The Gospel Express, a medley of three spirituals: Get on Board, Little Children; Mary Had a Baby; and Bound for Glory composed for Danesborough Chorus by a former choir member, Ken Storry. The concert will also include a set for jazz quartet.
