A Jazz Celebration of Lent: Suite Justice, A Jazz Setting of the Beatitudes

An ensemble of some of Detroit’s finest jazz instrumentalists and singers will be joined by the Wayne State University Concert Chorale in presenting “A Jazz Celebration of Lent,” a concert featuring a big band and chorus on Sunday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Historic Fort Street Presbyterian Church in downtown Detroit.

The centerpiece of the concert will be composer Russ Miller’s Suite Justice: A Jazz Setting of the Beatitudes for big band and chorus. Suite Justice consists of eight movements, beginning with “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit” and continuing with a movement devoted to each of the next seven Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, 5:1-12. Inspired by Duke Ellington’s Sacred Music and Dave Brubeck’s Oratorio The Light in the Wilderness, each movement conveys the composer’s impression of the feeling and spirit of each Beatitude, alternately featuring acapella chorus, big band, chorus with big band, and instrumental and vocal soloists.

Also featured will be Detroit guitarist Ron English’s big band and chorus settings of two other scriptures, “If My People Would Pray” and “Immanuel.”