November 28, 2011
Jazz bands to perform Duke Ellington's 'Nutcracker Suite' Tuesday
Submitted by Frederick Burrack
Two K-State jazz ensembles will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Forum Hall.
The K-State Lab A Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Gordon Lewis, instructor of music, and the Concert Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Frederick Burrack, associate professor of music, will perform selections from Duke Ellington's "Nutcracker Suite."
Specially featured will be the arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" as written and performed by the Duke Ellington Jazz Orchestra. This arrangement by Billy Strayhorn will feature jazz versions of the "Overture"; "Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)"; "Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers)"; "Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy)"; "Entracte"; "Arabesque Cookie (Arabian Dance)"; and "Volga Vouty (Russian Dance)." Also performed will be Thad Jone's swinging chart "Big Dipper"; Frank Mantooth's beautiful ballad "Young and Foolish"; and Dizzy Gillespie's "Birk's Works."
The performance will be memorable and is free of charge.