Come Sunday


"Come Sunday" is a sacred jazz piece by Duke Ellington that has become a jazz standard. It was written as a part of the first movement of a suite entitled Black, Brown and Beige.

History

Ellington was engaged for a performance at Carnegie Hall on January 23, 1943, for which he wrote the entire composition. In 1958 he revised the suite and recorded it in its entirety for that year's album titled after the suite. "Come Sunday" was originally a centerpiece for alto saxophone player Johnny Hodges; the 1958 album, which contained a vocal version of the piece with new lyrics by Ellington featuring gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, greatly increased its popularity.

Notable recordings