Find similar albums to the nutcracker suite duke ellington on allmusic. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. In their own unique style, the two composers remake tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. Dec 03, 2015 yet the nutcracker suite was the first time strayhorns name was seen as equal to the duke.
Heres a clever, wellexecuted album with a clever, wellexecuted plan. Ellingtons band members were not so sure that a classical ballet could become a coolcat jazz number. Larry strayhorn, nephew of the bill strayhorn, will help the jazz studies department kick off the inaugural event of a new tradition at uindy in ransburg auditorium. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960 recording of the nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorns superb jazz arrangement. The setting of the nutcracker suite that he composed with billy strayhorn has been among the most popular of these efforts, but it, like the dukes other concert works, remains. Larry strayhorn, nephew of the bill strayhorn, will help the jazz studies department kick off the inaugural event of a new tradition at uindy in ransburg auditorium with. In 1960, duke ellington and his longtime collaborator billy strayhorn. Steinbach nutcrackers tchaikovskys nutcracker suite series 19922008 series introductions steinbach nutcrackers nutcracker suite series. Join the thompson jazz studies program for a joyful and swinging evening of the hippest holiday music ever. Dec 23, 2010 alfred is proud to partner with the billy strayhorn and duke ellington estates to release the famous jazzy arrangement of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, as performed by the duke ellington orchestra. Its 1960 and jazz fans cant get enough of duke ellington and his big band. It challenged us to think about how the creation of most arts is a lot messier, says.
By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging jazz version of it begins. It challenged us to think about how the creation of most arts is. His band and guest singers austin and washington breathe new life into the singular cultural fusion of tchaikovsky with the orchestral language of ellington. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke. Ellington and strayhorns the nutcracker suite at studenaker. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960 recording of the nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorn s superb jazz arrangement. This release, edited by jeff lindberg for level 6 jazz ensembles, marks the first time in history the authentic transcription of this legendary piece is available for. Justin varnes the jazz corner hilton head island, sc december 15, 2017 every christmas is the nutcracker season for ballet aficionados. In 1960, duke ellington and billy strayhorn composed jazz interpretations of pieces from tchaikovskys score, recorded and released on lp as the nutcracker suite. Michelle dorrance makes a tap nutcracker to duke ellingtons swinging riffs on. Drummer cafe alfred releases popular strayhorn, ellington. Dec 24, 20 when ellington signs a record contract in 1960, he teams up with fellow musician billy strayhorn, and the two composers create a new spin on tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. All manner of nutcrackers have been performed, from rock to hiphop. The nutcracker suite duke ellington credits allmusic.
Marcus shelby orchestra ellingtons nutcracker sfjazz center. Set to david bergers version of the duke ellingtonbilly strayhorn arrangement of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, the. The baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. The nutcracker suite by duke ellington and his orchestra. Examples of how nationalities can be portrayed without stereotyping include donald byrds excellent 1996 harlem nutcracker. Steinbach nutcrackers tchaikovskys nutcracker suite series. Anna harwell celenza duke ellingtons nutcracker suite. Ellington s band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. Ellingtons band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. Dec 16, 2019 in the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music. Gordon parks photography, johnny hodges saxophone, harry carney saxophone, paul gonsalves saxophone, russell procope saxophone, jimmy. After offering his take on the nutcracker suite, with billy strayhorn as arranger, he would go on to write the far east suite 1966, also with strayhorn, the new orleans suite 1970, and a jazz version of the christian liturgy in his sacred concerts of the 1960s. There are nostalgic nutcrackers and tongueincheek nutcrackers and.
Duke ellington and his orchestra, ellington, strayhorn. Duke ellington and his orchestra, ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the new. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian institutions national museum of american history. Alfred releases popular strayhorn, ellington arrangement. Duke ellington presents the nutcracker suite youtube. In 1999, this suite was supplemented with additional arrangements from the score by david berger for the harlem nutcracker, a production of the ballet by choreographer donald byrd. Strayhorn 19151967 gave ellington his theme song, take the a train, with which the university of indianapolis collaborative jazz orchestra opened a concert monday night focusing mainly on the two mens recasting of tchaikovskys first nutcracker suite.
Later, in the early 2000s, the tap innovator brenda bufalino created her own tap version. The show will highlight the jazz interpretations of. Ellington and strayhorn took some liberties with the suite, and this is apparent right from the start. Duke ellington and billy strayhorns the nutcracker suite. Steinbach nutcrackers tchaikovskys nutcracker suite series 19922008 series introductions steinbach nutcrackers nutcracker suite series 202014 series introduction. The idea for the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with the duke, brought over a pile of lps by ellington, among them a 1960 recording of the tchaikovsky nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorns superb jazz arrangement. Licensed to youtube by kontor new media music, sme on behalf of school of jazz records. Ellingtons nutcracker at the jazz corner all about jazz. The liner to the original nutcracker suite cd is notable for two reasons. This edition of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian institutions national museum of american history. While largely forgotten today, the popular album marked a watershed in one of american musics most consequent and productive partnerships, as ellington gave strayhorn. Bigband duke ellington 1960 three suites nutcracker. Nov 28, 2014 the baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. The nutcracker suite is duke ellington and billy strayhorns masterful arrangement of tchaikovskys classic.
Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognised as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the 1960s. The resulting, nutcracker suite, transforms the dance of the sugar. This authentic edition of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, as arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian institutions national. Dec 08, 2015 strayhorn 19151967 gave ellington his theme song, take the a train, with which the university of indianapolis collaborative jazz orchestra opened a concert monday night focusing mainly on the two mens recasting of tchaikovskys first nutcracker suite. The tchaikovskys nutcracker suite rearranged by duke ellington and billy strayhorn duke ellington and his orchestra. Toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes, peanut brittle brigade march, sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy, danse of the floreadores. In duke ellington and billy strayhorns reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite from 1960, the jazz composers didnt lean on tchaikovsky for. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. The nutcracker suite, an album by duke ellington and his orchestra. The nutcracker suite is duke ellington and billy strayhorn s masterful arrangement of tchaikovskys classic. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognised as one of duke ellington s most important albums of the 1960s.
In 1960, ellington and strayhorn wrote their version of the famous tchaikovsky ballet. Ellingtonstrayhorntchaikovsky nutcracker suite act one. Dec 21, 2019 in 1960, at the urging of billy strayhorn, the duke ellington orchestra recorded the nutcracker suite columbia, a brilliant jazz interpretation of tchaikovskys music. Madison college jazz ensemble will open the concert with fred sturm and a beautiful arrangement of skylark by bob brookmeyer.
An immediate sensation, the production unleashed an army of nutcrackers large. Dec 20, 2018 duke ellington and billy strayhorns nutcracker suite arrangements offer an ideal vehicle for shelbys jazz orchestra. This edition of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, arranged in 1960 by billy strayhorn and duke ellington, was assembled from the original manuscripts held in the strayhorn repository and the ellington collection of the smithsonian. The acclaimed chicago jazz orchestra cjo will debut a new holiday music tradition in chicago when it presents duke ellington and billy strayhorns the nutcracker suite, a jazzinfused.
Eager to create fresh, new tunes, duke and his bestfriend and collaborator, billy strayhorn, decide to reinvent a holiday tradition. Alfred is proud to partner with the billy strayhorn and duke ellington estates to release the famous jazzy arrangement of tchaikovskys the nutcracker suite, as performed by the duke ellington orchestra. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellington s most important albums of the 1960s. This release, edited by jeff lindberg for level 6 jazz ensembles, marks the first time in history the authentic transcription of this. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960. Richman loved it, and immediately decided he had to perform it sidebyside with tchaikovskys original. Toot toot tootie toot dance of the reedpipes, peanut brittle brigade march, sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy, danse of. Yet when the duke and his writing partner billy strayhorn first announced plans to take the classical ballet and perform a jazz version, even members of dukes orchestra expressed. The placement of the traditional nutcracker suite before the ellington strayhorn version was a stroke of genius. The nutcracker suite duke ellington similar allmusic. First, because it portrays billy strayhorn and recognizes the impact of this private man on duke ellington s music.
Sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy 05 the nutcracker suite. The idea for combining the two nutcrackers came about when trombonist art baron, who had played with duke ellington, introduced steven richman to a 1960 recording of the nutcracker suite in ellington and billy strayhorns jazz arrangement. Edward kennedy duke ellington devoted major efforts over the last three decades of his life to pieces that were, if not entirely classical in inspiration, at least composed upon the canvas of western concert music. Richman loved it, and immediately decided he had to perform it sidebyside with tchaikovskys. In 1960, at the urging of billy strayhorn, the duke ellington orchestra recorded the nutcracker suite columbia, a brilliant jazz interpretation of tchaikovskys music. A collaborative effort, the concert will feature three ensembles. By doing this, the original is still fresh in the listeners mind when the swinging. Visions of sugar rum cherries tap dance in her head the. In the 1990s there was the harlem nutcracker, which also used the ellingtonstrayhorn music.
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