The story behind the jazzedup nutcracker the nutcracker suite, which uindy performs dec. The legendary composing and arranging skills of duke ellington and. It juxtaposes two versions of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite on the same disc. Duke ellington, born april 29, 1899 in washington, d. Duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky duke ellington and his orchestra ellington, strayhorn, tchaikovsky the nutcracker suite. Almost anything by the ellington band is a genuine aural banquet, and this is no exception. Ellingtons reworking of griegs peer gynt suites including in the hall of the mountain king and his tribute to john steinbeck suite thursday are also among his better. 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. Lawrence brown, juan tizol, johnny hodges, and harry carney. Duke ellington piano solo rarest of the rare recordings. 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 musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the. Duke ellington was the true master of the big band era, although a lot of benny goodman followers might disagree.
Peanut brittle brigade march this is one of the fine examples of the full ellington band turning a foursided march theme into a great jazz performance. Duke ellingtons nutcracker with duke ellington orchestra. Many know him as duke ellingtons longtime collaborator, composer and arranger, who. Featuring brand new choreography from dcbased dance troupe step afrika. Duke ellington and his orchestra playing this awesome tune in it dont mean a thing if it aint got. On a night in 1960, legendary musician and band leader duke ellington, along with his collaborator billy strayhorn, decided to jazz up tchaikovskys christmastime staple, nutcracker suite. Just continuing my upload of the duke s rendition of the nutcracker suite.
Duke ellington the nutcracker suite rtv slovenia symphony orchestra duration. The nutcracker suite duke ellington album wikipedia. Edward kennedy duke ellington april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american composer. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite episode 1 on this podcast i do a side by side comparison between the original by tchaikovsky and the ellingtonstrayhorn version. 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.
Strayhorn met duke ellington in december 1938, after an ellington performance in. Stratemanns duke ellington day by day and film by film, mark tucker. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz. Justin varnes the jazz corner hilton head island, sc december 15, 2017 every christmas is the nutcracker season for ballet aficionados. The nutcracker suite interpreted by duke ellington and billy strayhorn. A number of the dukes original members of his 19381941 band performed on the recording including. Alvin aileys night creature is a bubbly champagne cocktail of a dance, a perfect fusion of aileys buoyant choreography and duke ellingtons sparkling music. Bigband duke ellington 1960 three suites nutcracker. Selftaught at the piano, he grew up surrounded by vibrant ragtime music and it was this that first inspired him to compose. Just continuing my upload of duke s rendition of the nutcracker suite.
Urban nutcracker puts a modern spin on the 19th century fairy tale and transports the audience to an enchanted world not unlike their own. In 1960, ellington and strayhorn wrote their version of the famous tchaikovsky ballet. Duke ellingtons nutcracker baltimore symphony orchestra. Listen before or after reading the nutcracker in harlem by t. Seeing as how it is christmas, i figured that another mass upload would be an appropriate gift to give out on youtube, and what better to start with, then duke ellington s rendition of the. After the ensemble, ray nance and jimmy hamilton take solos, and there is a piano solo, one of the few in this suite. The principal aim of this site is to provide as full an online discography of the recorded works of duke ellington as possible.
Its 1960 and jazz fans cant get enough of duke ellington and his big band. Ccm has become an allsteinway school through the kindness of its donors. Get in the holiday spirit in the beautiful surroundings of calgarys grace presbyterian church. Anna harwell celenza duke ellingtons nutcracker suite.
It attracted scant attention upon its release, in 1951, and no. This album featured tasty jazz versions of music by tchaikovsky and grieg, which i believe even classics lovers might enjoy as well, the only drawback lies in a few original dukelike numbers tacked on at the and which failed to hit the mark, and arent really. Duke ellingtons nutcracker and holiday concert jazz ensemble dr. Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington was born in april 1899 in washington dc he was nicknamed duke by a boyhood friend, and the name stuck. Ellingtons reworking of griegs peer gynt suites including in the hall of the mountain king and his tribute to john steinbeck suite thursday are also among his better extended. A holiday concert tradition, the orchestra will perform the complete nutcracker suite as arranged for jazz ensemble by the incomparable duke ellington and billy strayhorn, along with other holiday favorites. 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 duke s orchestra expressed. Cutno dance centers nutcracker in the south which features duke ellingtons rendition of the nutcracker, has become a regular augusta.
Night creature by alvin ailey alvin ailey repertory. He also chose to be openly gay, which was rare at the time. The baltimore symphony orchestra performs duke ellingtons nutcracker with step afrika. The nutcracker suite additional works to be announced jazz up your holidays with duke ellington s dazzling reimagining of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, performed by the duke ellington orchestrathe only ensemble directly carrying on the tradition from duke himself. The duke plays ellington capitol capitol universal. In their own unique style, the two composers remake tchaikovskys nutcracker suite. 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. Strains of duke ellington dovetails with the buzz of neon driven by the heartbeat of tchaikovsky. The legendary composing and arranging skills of duke ellington and billy strayhorn also make it nutcracker season for jazz aficionados. Ellington and strayhorns the nutcracker suite at studenaker.
The classical masterpiece is a holiday favorite and tinkering with something so well known is a bit risky. The nutcracker suite, an album by duke ellington and his orchestra. Gordon parks photography, johnny hodges saxophone, harry carney saxophone, paul gonsalves saxophone, russell procope saxophone, jimmy. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellingtons nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. In a box of miscellaneous items in the duke ellington collection in the archives. Duke ellingtons nutcracker suite its a challenge to transform the nutcracker suites romantic orchestra into jumpin jazz melodies, but thats exactly what duke ellington and his collaborator, billy strayhorn, did. Duke ellington short bio long bio news works performances discography photos listen edward k. 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.
Duke ellington edward kennedy ellington, april 29, 1899 may 24, 1974 was an american jazz composer, pianist and bandleader, one of the most influential figures. Heres a clever, wellexecuted album with a clever, wellexecuted plan. The story behind the jazzedup nutcracker the indianapolis star. Rare christmas music duke ellington sugar rum cherry. Duke ellington sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum. Standard radio transcription recording session at rcavictor. Thanks to my music teacher that told me duke ellington vs. Duke ellingtons best album, masterpieces by ellington. One of duke ellingtons most delightful adaptations of another composers material is his reworking of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite into jazz. H nutcracker but somehow i managed to listen to it and she said it was on. Join the calgary creative arts ensemble as they present music from tchaikovskys beloved nutcracker as reimagined by the great duke ellington. 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. For purposes of accuracy, the manuscripts were crosschecked carefully with the original duke.
Duke ellington and his orchestra the nutcracker suite. Duke ellington, one of the greatest composers and performers of the 20th century. Nutcracker suite songs i have a considerable number of ellington recordings, but have not heard this one until now. Featuring jazz interpretations of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, the album has come to be recognized as one of duke ellingtons most important albums of the 1960s. Ellingtons band is not keen on tackling it, but he is not dissuaded. Scott belck, director jazz lab band dominic marino, director featuring ccm musical theater dance diane lala, choreographer sunday, november 24, 20 corbett auditorium 2. Duke ellington celebrating dukes birthday april it dont mean a thing innovator, creator and leader, duke ellington was a principal figure in the formation of big band jazz and composed more than pieces in the style he dubbed american music. The nutcracker suite is an album by american pianist, composer and bandleader duke ellington recorded for the columbia label in 1960 featuring jazz interpretations of the nutcracker by tchaikovsky, arranged by ellington and billy strayhorn. Hoffmanns story the nutcracker and the mouse king although the original production was not a. Duke ellington sugar rum cherry dance of the sugarplum fairy masterxelpud. Eager to create fresh, new tunes, duke and his bestfriend and collaborator, billy strayhorn, decide to reinvent a holiday tradition. The bso will delight the entire family with the peanut brittle brigade and dance of the floreadors and a few old favorites too. Florida wind symphony jazz orchestra will present an ellington nutcracker in the university theatre. A 1959 promo video for duke ellington s version of the nutcracker suite, featuring paul gonsalves, butter jackson, and ray nance.
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