Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite Returns to ESU

ESU Jazz Band

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on November 19, 2019, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University’s Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection will present the 3rd Annual Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall of the university’s Fine & Performing Arts Center, Normal and Marguerite streets, East Stroudsburg.

The original music to the iconic Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suite for large jazz ensemble will be performed by the Water Gap Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Matt Vashlishan, who is also the Coordinator of the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection at ESU. The 17-piece ensemble will be joined by local jazz vocalist Nancy Reed and Duke Ellington’s grandson, Edward Ellington II, as guest narrators telling the story of the Nutcracker.

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker has become one of the most recognized holiday performances since its debut performance in 1892. In 1960, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn arranged their own jazz version of the suite for Columbia Records. The music is instantly recognizable with a fresh, “hip” twist, and has become very popular among jazz musicians, jazz listeners and general audiences.

“Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite is becoming an ESU holiday tradition,” said Vashlishan. “We are very excited to have the Water Gap Jazz Orchestra, Nancy Reed, and Edward Ellington II return to our campus for a third consecutive year to kick off the holiday season.”

Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite is open to the public. General admission tickets are $20; senior citizens are $15; students and children are $10.

Tickets are available by contacting Emily Brennan, special events coordinator at 570-422-3156, or can be purchased online in advance at www.esufoundation.org/nutcracker2019. Tickets will also be available at the door. For more information about the Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection contact Vashlishan at 570-422-3828 or email alcohncollection@esu.edu.