Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite

by Anna Harwell Celenza, Don Tate (Illustrator)

It's a challenge to transform the "Nutcracker Suite's" romantic orchestra into jumpin' jazz melodies, but that's exactly what Duke Ellington and his collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, did. Includes a CD recording of the Ellington/Strayhorn composition.

Genres: Music, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Christmas, Biography, Childrens, Jazz

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2011

Reviews

[Lancelot Schaubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real treasure of this one is the cd included, which is available on YouTube and elsewhere. I recommend listening as you read the story

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved books like this that we can easily read and listen to the song they are referring too.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Duke Ellington's take on the Nutcracker Suite -- how the idea came about, how it was written and recorded. The book really emphasizes the role of Billy Strayhorn.

Slim Gaillard appears... because he could? That was the strangest thing to me about the book.

The illustrations fit well, and they especially captured the moods of the different parts of the suite.

I'd definitely read this with The Harlem Nutcracker, as that performance uses this score.

[Michael Guillot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was goofy as hell. It's a bunch of made up conversations between jazz musicians that you can tell was written by a white lady with a surface level knowledge of the people she was writing about and fictitiously voicing.

"It's swingin' real fine," answered Slim. "I'm cuttin' a new record in the studio down the hall. [...] Hop-a-tooty and slim-slam-a-booty. Catch you later, cats."

😐😐😐

Bye.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this I immediately had to seek out a recording of Duke Ellington's arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite. I didn't even know this version existed. So glad I read this picture book!

[Darlena Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Jazz Appreciation Month, this book is timeless, educational, inspirational! So glad I found and read this book.

[Barrett Homeschool · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how Ellington came to record his version of the Nutcracker Suite. Really fun, and definitely made us all want to listen to the Tchaikovsky and Ellington versions side-by-side!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells in story-form how Duke Ellington was inspired to take Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and write it for Jazz. Writing it was easy, it was finished in less than three months, but convincing the musicians of the idea was another matter. Here's how Duke was able to do it.

An interesting story and I loved the CD (which has the entire Suite). A book for your older kids.

Ages: 6 - 12

Cleanliness: to inspire the musicians to interpret the music correctly, Billy said "show us how Cherry swings her hips." There is a picture of this but it is not suggestive.

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[Shannon McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art has a very free flowing feeling like listening to Jazz. The colors are bright, vivacious and fun to follow.

The story is not one with much action but imagination. It is fun to read the words of how Duke Ellington and his jazz entourage might have been told to play the musical suite in jazz form. Even while reading it without listening to the cd you can hear the music and feel it. I think that is what Jazz is all about.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Nutcracker Suite; it is such a pleasant and soothing group of melodies. Although I am not an intense jazz lover, I enjoy jazz and have various jazz musicians in my music collection. I was fascinated by the idea of hearing the Nutcracker Suite transformed into jazz melodies. I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed learning about Duke Ellington and his partner on this composition, Billy Strayhorn, two remarkable musicians.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the historical fact that Ellington and his collaborator, Billy Strayhorn, created a "jazzy" version of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite in 1960. Author's note explaining a bit about the history and sources of this musical creation. CD included--could be fun to compare to a traditional-style recording.

[carrietracy · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story is wordy and unlikely to hold much interest, a contrast to many other picture books on jazz that I've read. Thank goodness for the illustrations and for a disc of Ellington's music, otherwise there may have been nothing to redeem this book.

[Janessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very musical. This could be used for a music lesson. It comes with a CD of the music that they are talking about in the story. The story is about making Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" modernized and jazzy. It would be fun to compare the old with the new jazzy version.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and child accessible. Titles such as this go beyond bland facts and brings the lives and contributions of real people to life for children. The inclusion of the CD enhances the text and beautiful illustrations.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems I like this more than many others, but possibly because I loved listenng to the music as I read each section. I can see it being useful to music teachers and think kids might enjoy it in a class session more than as an independent read.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool story about how Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite came into being.

Read with The Harlem Nutcracker.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The CD recording that accompanies the book is incredible. The flavor of his recordings give it energy, excitement, and an edge.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get a chance to listen to the CD. Might have bumped this up a star if I did. Interesting story about how Duke Ellington created his version of the Nutcracker Suite.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but I'm not sure how many children are very interested in jazz, particularly jazz based on the Nutcracker Suite.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome exposure to jazz interpretation of a Christmas classic - for older elementary.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was shelf reading and found this book. The story is intriguing, and I love that the book comes with the CD. I like everything about it.

[wildct2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read and listen to.

Reread 5/23 Still good

[Laurel Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story.