Three Suites

Artist: Duke Ellington

Number of Discs: 1

Total time: 64:37
Label: Columbia/Legacy
Availability: In stock
Item #: 5171282

List Price: $16.99
Member Price: $11.98

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Review

One of Duke Ellington's most delightful adaptations of another composer's material is his reworking of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" into jazz; this version is a classic and well worth treasuring. Ellington's reworking of Grieg's "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 works, really utilizing the unique tones of his distinctive sidemen. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Read About This Recording

Three Suites has a trio of extended works featuring Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1960. While Suite Thursday (a tribute to author John Steinbeck written by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn) and Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites (which includes Anitra's Dance and In The Hall Of The Mountain King) have no direct connection to Christmas, they are quite complementary to the main work, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite. Among the most delightful adaptations of another composer's work, this version of The Nutcracker Suite (which includes Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy) transforms the nine movements into jazz. The music is both haunting and catchy with such key players as altoist Johnny Hodges, baritonist Harry Carney, cornetist Ray Nance, Paul Gonsalves on tenor and clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton adding their unique voices and tone colors to the arrangements and doing full justice to the timeless music.

-Scott Yanow

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite: Overture; Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance Of The Reed-Pipes); Peanut Brittle Brigade; Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy); Entr'acte; The Volga Vouty (Russian Dance); Chinoiserie (Chinese Dance); Danse Of The Floreadores (Waltz Of The Flowers); Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance); Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2: Morning Mood; In The Hall Of The Mountain King; Solvejg's Song; Ase's Death; Antra's Dance; Ellington-Strayhorn Suite Thursday: Misfit Blues; Schwiphti; Zweet Zurzday; Lay-By.

Duke Ellington, Piano; Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Alto Saxes; Harry Carney, Woodwinds; Jimmy Hamilton, Clarinet, Tenor Sax; Paul Gonsalves, Tenor Sax; Ray Nance, Trumpet, Violin, Vocals; Willie Cook, Andres Meringuito, Eddie Mullins, Trumpets; Lawrence Brown, Booty Wood, Britt Woodman, Juan Tizol, Trombones; Sam Woodyard, Drums; Aaron Bell, Bass.

Tracks + Soundclips

Three Suites
	1. Overture	3:22
	2. Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Pipes)	2:30
	3. Peanut Brittle Brigade [March]	4:37
	4. Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy)	3:05
	5. Entr'acte	1:53
	6. Volga Vouty (Russian Dance)	2:52
	7. Chinoiserie (Chinese Dance)	2:50
	8. Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers)	4:04
	9. Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance)	5:44
	10. Morning Mood	4:24
	11. In the Hall of the Mountain King	2:33
	12. Solvejg's Song	3:59
	13. Ase's Death	3:47
	14. Anitra's Dance	2:58
	15. Misfit Blues	4:09
	16. Schwiphti	3:04
	17. Zweet Zurzday	3:56
	18. Lay-By	4:50

Details and Credits

Product Details

Label: Columbia/Legacy
Release date: 1960
Instrumental

Styles

Big Band
Swing

Browse all jazz styles

Album Credits
Performance Credits
Aaron Bell	Bass
Andres Meringuito	Trumpet
Booty Wood	Trombone
Britt Woodman	Trombone
Duke Ellington	Piano
Eddie Mullins	Trumpet
Harry Carney	Saxophone
Jimmy Hamilton	Saxophone
Johnny Hodges	Saxophone
Juan Tizol	Trombone
Lawrence Brown	Trombone
Lawrence D. Brown	Trombone
Matthew Gee	Trombone
Paul Gonsalves	Saxophone
Paul Horn	Saxophone
Ray Nance	Trumpet
Russell Procope	Saxophone
Sam Woodyard	Drums
Willie Cook	Trumpet

Technical Credits
Allen Weinberg	Art Direction
Amy Herot	Series Coordinator
Frank Driggs	Photography
Gary Pacheco	Series Coordinator
Irving Townsend	Liner Notes
Larry Keyes	Remixing
Michael Berniker	Series Coordinator
Michael Brooks	Digital Producer
Michael Brooks	Digital Producer
Tony Tiller	Package Coordinator