Featuring jazz interpretations of Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker', the album has come to be recognised as one of Duke Ellington's most important albums of the 1960s. Award winning New York based conductor Steven Richman has done a great job with the winning combination of Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn (the hippest cats of jazz-a-tooty) on the one album. Bonus tracks on this album are selections from 'Peer Gynt' suites No. 1 and 2 written by Edward Grieg adapted by Duke Ellington including five movements: 'Morning Mood', 'Hall of the Mountain King', 'Solvejg's Dance', 'Ase's Death' and 'Anitra's Dance'.
Duke Ellington And His Orchestra – The Nutcracker Suite / Peer Gynt Suite No 1&2
The Nutcracker Suite
A1. Overture
A2. Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance Of The Reed-Pipes)
A3. Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)
A4. Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy)
A5. Entr'acte
A6. The Volga Vouty (Russian Dance)
A7. Choniserie (Chinese Dance)
B1. Dance Of The Floreadores (Waltz Of The Flowers)
B2. Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance)
Selections From Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2
B3. Morning Mood
B4. In The Hall Of The Mountain King
B5. Solvejg's Song
B6. Ase's Death
B7. Anitra's Dance
