River City Writer

And now, for the final piece(s) of the night, Duke Ellington’s arrangement of a suite from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Jazz…and The Nutcracker. I’ve never heard this arrangement before, but I’ve got to say I’m loving it. It’s a great twist on pieces that, while great in their own right, can sometimes feel tiresome after hearing them every year when the holidays roll ’round.

It’s funny, like most people, I have some familiarity with The Nutcracker (though, I admit, I’m not a huge fan, so I’m hardly an expert), but I’m having some trouble recognizing the different songs. I mean, I know they’re from The Nutcracker, and I know that I recognize them, but…well…I don’t recognize them.

I realize, of course, just how little sense that phrase makes, but hopefully you’re able to decode my cryptic ramblings and get some sense of what I’m trying to say.

Obviously, I’m not allowed to record this evening’s performance, but I’m sure you can find a version of the Ellington arrangement of The Nutcracker online somewhere. I highly recommend it.

Ah…here’s one I recognize. “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies,” or, as Ellington’s version is called, “Dance of the Sugar Rum Cherry.” If you’d have told me before tonight that I would ever be using the word “sexy” to describe “Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies,” I’d have called you a liar, but there is some definite sexiness coming from the horn section right now.

And now: “March” (known tonight as “Peanut Brittle Brigade”. Another instantly recognizable yet totally unexpected version of a song that almost everyone in the Western world knows. I can’t say that I disapprove of this version.

Really, this entire Ellington suite has been very cool. It’s very different from the traditional versions, of course, but that’s the beauty of it. I really do recommend looking for a version of it online, or picking up a record if you can find one. You’ll thank me later.

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, is #5.

Note: I’ll probably go through and edit these posts sometime tomorrow, and toss up some afterthoughts, so make sure to check out River City Writer again tomorrow.