Ellington’s wonderful “Sacred Music” is both serious and swinging. It is a reverent and hip body of jazz composition, written late in his career, for jazz big band, vocal and instrumental soloists, and tap dancers.

For the past 30+ years Earshot Jazz and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra have partnered to present an annual concert of Ellington’s Sacred Music. The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Michael Brockman (who co-founded SRJO alongside Clarence Acox Jr.), features the 17-piece big band. This year’s vocal soloists are Stephen Newby (baritone voice) and Nichol Veneé Eskridge (alto voice). Also featuring a choral ensemble combining members of the Northwest Chamber Chorus (Jeremy Edelstein, director) along with Music Director, Vanessa Bruce and vocalists. Cipher Goings will return to the stage as the tap dancer. A local artist raised in the Central District, Cipher Goings has appeared recently on So You Think You Can Dance, and on the stage in the Charles Dickens’ inspired production Spirited.