Sermonette
$6.00
Big Shoulders Records | 2026
Sermonette / If It’s True brings together two timely performances from Kurt Elling: a new jazz vocalese rooted in the Cannonball Adderley tradition, and a powerful interpretation from the world of Hadestown.
On “Sermonette,” Elling builds on the spirit of Jon Hendricks’ original lyric with new words shaped by humor, compassion, civic responsibility, and the strange American moment we’re living through. The track features pianist Luther Allison.
The companion track, “If It’s True,” follows Elling’s acclaimed Broadway run as Hermes in Hadestown. Though sung by Orpheus in the show, Anaïs Mitchell’s song becomes here a resonant counterpoint to “Sermonette” — a question of truth, belief, and what we are willing to stand for. This recording features John Beasley on piano and Hadestown guitarist Ilusha Tsinadze.
100% of net proceeds from purchases of this release via Bandcamp and kurtelling.com benefit The People’s Music School in Chicago.
Track Listing
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Sermonette
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Heart of Darkness
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If It's True
Personnel
Kurt Elling – voice
Luther Allison – piano (Track 1)
John Beasley – piano (Tracks 2,3)
Ilusha Tsinadze – guitar (Tracks 2,3)
Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by Chris Allen
