Blues and the Abstract Truth at Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre

The NEC Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Ken Schaphorst explores the many ways blues are expressed in music for voice and big band. The program features early, traditional blues works including Count Basie's Every Day I Have the Blues, Billy Eckstine's Blowin' the Blues Away, Duke Ellington's Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue, and W.C. Handy's Friendless Blues. More modern blues offshoots are also included, such as Jimmy Heath's Gingerbread Boy, Julius Hemphill's C/Saw, Charles Mingus's Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, and Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments.