Duke Ellington records ‘The Nutcracker Suite,’ his take on the Tchaikovsky’s work, arranged by himself and Billy Strayhorn (1960)

Duke Ellington‘s ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ is an album featuring jazz interpretations of ‘The Nutcracker’ by Tchaikovsky, arranged by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, recorded on May 26 & 31, June 3, 21 & 22, 1960 and released in 1960 By Columbia.

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Track Listing : 1.Overture (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 03:22 . 2.Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance Of The Reed-Pipes) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 02:30 . 3.Peanut Brittle Brigade [March] (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 04:37 . 4.Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 03:05 . 5.Entr’Acte (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 01:53 . 6.Volga Vouty (Russian Dance) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 02:52 . 7.Chinoiserie (Chinese Dance) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 02:50 . 8.Danse Of The Floreadores (Waltz Of The Flowers) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 04:04 . 9.Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance) (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) – 05:44

Musicians : Duke Ellington – Piano . Willie Cook – Trumpet . Fats Ford – Trumpet . Ray Nance – Trumpet . Clark Terry – Trumpet . Lawrence Brown – Trombone . Booty Wood – Trombone . Britt Woodman – Trombone . Juan Tizol – Valve Trombone . Jimmy Hamilton – Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone . Johnny Hodges – Alto Saxophone . Russell Procope – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet . Paul Gonsalves – Tenor Saxophone . Harry Carney – Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet . Aaron Bell – Bass . Sam Woodyard – Drums

Production : Produced By Duke Ellington . Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn

Arrangements : Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn

Recorded On May 26 & 31, June 3, 21 & 22, 1960 At Radio Recorders, Los Angeles.

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(Source Duke Ellington‘s ‘The Nutcracker Suite’ | The Nutcracker Suite | The Official Website of Jazz Legend Duke Ellington)

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Classical Net
The “Overture” transforms the miniature delicacy of the original to an easy lope, with some unusual syncopated counterpoint. “Toot Toot Tootie Toot” (originally titled “Caliopatootie toot toot tootie Toot”) begins with some absolutely brilliant writing for solo winds and finger cymbals, none of which comes from Tchaikovsky. […]

Anna Harwell Celenza
In 1960, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn reinvented Tchaikovsky’s holiday ballet classic as a jazzy, brassy “melting pot of musical styles past and present.” Celenza, a musicologist, loosely reimagines the recording sessions; spread by spread, each movement takes off. […]

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Duke Ellington‘s ‘The Nutcracker Suite’

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