The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson

Louie Bellson was the featured percussionist in Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts of 1965. During that collaboration, Ellington encouraged drummer Bellson to compose and perform a sacred concert of his own. In The Sacred Music, composer Bellson combines the “voicings" of symphony, big band and choir into a thrilling rendition which has been hailed “a masterpiece" and “a spiritual celebration" by Bellson colleagues Tony Bennett, Della Reese, Dave Brubeck and others.

The Jazz Ballet is based on the vows of holy matrimony. It features veteran trumpeter Bobby Shew who had performed it several times before. The work originally premiered in Las Vegas (1962) with none other than Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet.

Supporting musicians for both works were faculty and students of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music Studio Jazz Band, Symphony String Orchestra and Choir.

The album contains a 20-page booklet of comprehensive liner notes written by renowned Ellington journalist and Bellson biographer Patricia Willard. Also included are photos of Bellson performing in 2000, 2002 and in 1965 with Duke Ellington and Lena Horne.

Referred to by Duke Ellington as “not only the world's greatest drummer...(but also) the world's greatest musician!", Louie Bellson has expressed himself on drums since age three. At 15, he pioneered the double bass drum set-up. At 17, he triumphed over 40,000 drummers to win the Gene Krupa drumming contest.

He has performed on more than 200 albums with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton and Bellson's late wife Pearl Bailey.

Composer and author, he has written more than 1,000 compositions and more than a dozen books on drums and percussion. He received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994. Also, he is a six-time Grammy nominee.

In 1998, Louie Bellson was hailed (along with Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Max Roach) as one of four “Living Legends of Music" when he received the American Drummers Achievement Award from the Zildjian Company.

Bellson holds four honorary doctorates, the most recent from DePaul University in 2001. In 2003, a historical land-marker was dedicated at his July 6, 1924 birth house in Rock Falls, Illinois, thus inaugurating their annual 4-day celebration in his honor.

The 2006 CD release of The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson and The Jazz Ballet amply showcases his mastery and breadth as both composer and performer.

Appearances may be booked through (661) 294-5600 or [email protected].