The Harlem Nutcracker

The Harlem Nutcracker

The Harlem Nutcracker

ASIN: B00003L8M6

On this CD: 1. The Harlem Nutcracker
Composed by David Berger, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn

Editorial Reviews
David Lyman, Detroit Free Press
High-spirited 'Harlem Nutcracker' drips with delicious excess

Berger's arrangements - he has written three-fourths of the music for "The Harlem Nutcracker" - are brash and brawny and extraordinarily articulate in the way they skitter through Tchaikovsky's score, tipping its musical hat, but never slowing down long enough to get bogged down by it.

Product Description
The Harlem Nutcracker
composed by Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn David Berger
recorded by David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

"The Harlem Nutcracker" cast recording jumps with the fabulous swing music of "The Harlem Nutcracker" dance production that tours nationally each holiday season. The new, original tracks by David Berger complement beautifully the included selections from "Nutcracker Suite" by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn to epitomize the timelessness of swing.

The Harlem Nutcracker

The Harlem Nutcracker,David/Ellington, Duke/Strayhorn, Billy Berger,SUCH SWEET THUNDER,Ballet,Cast album of choreographer Donald Byrd's Xmas classic featuring a big band swing adaptation of the Tchaikovsky ballet by Ellington, Strayhorn and Berger.,Christmas,Christmas / Chanukkah,Christmas Music,Pop
The Harlem Nutcracker
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Harlem Nutcracker
  • Setting the record straight on Billy Berger's arrangement .
  • buy the original please
  • Great!
  • A nutcracker that swings ...but still has the enchantment
 The Harlem Nutcracker
David Berger & The Sultans of Swing , Duke Ellington , and Billy Strayhorn
Manufacturer: Such Sweet Thunder
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Hindustan
  2. Three Suites
  3. Doin' the Do
  4. Marlowe
  5. In the Nutcracker Mood

ASIN: B00003L8M6
Release Date: 1999-11-26

Tracks:

  1. Overture
  2. Attack of the Ghouls
  3. Midnight Stroll
  4. Snowflake Joys
  5. Saturday Night Dance Party
  6. Xmas Be De Place/Sing Out
  7. You Take My Breath Away
  8. Punch Bowl Espaol
  9. Marquis Shuffle
  10. Danse of the Floreadores
  11. Peanut Butter Brigade
  12. Sugar Rum Cherry
  13. Volga Vouty
  14. Swingin' at Club Sweets

Album Description

The Harlem Nutcracker
composed by Duke Ellington Billy Strayhorn David Berger
recorded by David Berger & The Sultans of Swing

"The Harlem Nutcracker" cast recording jumps with the fabulous swing music of "The Harlem Nutcracker" dance production that tours nationally each holiday season. The new, original tracks by David Berger complement beautifully the included selections from "Nutcracker Suite" by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn to epitomize the timelessness of swing.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Harlem Nutcracker.......2006-11-02

An excellent variation of Ellington's arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Sound quality was excellent also.

5 out of 5 stars Setting the record straight on Billy Berger's arrangement ........2006-05-02

As I understand it, Billy Berger was commissioned by the choreographer Donald Byrd, who wanted to create an evening-length ballet called Harlem Nutcracker. (As you may know, Tchaikovsky composed two scores -- a full-length Nutcracker, which is used in the evening-length ballet, and a shorter Nutcracker Suite. Ellington's jazz arrangement is of the shorter "Suite.") Donald Byrd used all of the original Ellington music, and commissioned Berger to fill in around it to create an evening-length work. (For the record, I have never met Billy Berger, though I do know Donald Byrd.) Thank you.

3 out of 5 stars buy the original please.......2005-12-15

david berger's entire career is almost completely based on transcribing other musician's genuis - most notably Duke Ellington. to any of those who think that these are new "jazzy" arrangements of the nutcracker you should be interested in picking up the original, scored and arranged by Ellington and Strayhorn on a CD entitled "Three Suites". dont get me wrong - his band is good and he has some very accomplished musicians - but c'mon now - you really need to go with the Duke on this one.

5 out of 5 stars Great!.......2005-07-17

The arrangements and performances are outstanding!
I'll put this up against any swing music, now or from the 40's, it really swings, and it's excellently written and the musicianship is great.

Oh, and it includes some jazz-arranged Nutcracker Suite tunes.

If you like good swing jazz, you'll like this!

5 out of 5 stars A nutcracker that swings ...but still has the enchantment.......2002-08-06

I am afan of the play and i have the cd playing all the time. Than during the christmas holiday i saw the metro...perform the harlem nutcracker and let me tell you my entire family enjoyed it....it swings but it still has the enchantment of the play....this is a must have...
The Harlem Nutcracker
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		The Harlem Nutcracker
    David Berger , and Sultans Of Swing
    Manufacturer: Such Sweet Thunder
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD
    ASIN: B000N0R1N6
    Release Date: 2006-09-19

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