Ensemble jazzes up the holidays
Ellington’s Nutcracker has unique sound
This definitely puts some cool in your yule.
The Metro Jazz Ensemble is taking on Duke Ellington’s version of The Nutcracker Suite, made famous in the composer’s 1960 album with his orchestra.
“It’s just such a cool project to be involved in,” says Dean McNeill, the University of Saskatchewan music professor and trumpet player who initiated the concert.
Things gets even more hep with the guest star, trombone player Brad Shigata. Now based in Edmon- ton, Shigata played in the Duke Ellington band in the 1990s when it was led by Duke’s son, Mercer. He and McNeill went to university together at McGill before Shigata moved to New York City.
Having played the Nutcracker many times, Shigata will be a valuable resource for the band. And for music history lovers, he’s bringing some unpublished sheet music in Duke Ellington’s own hand to display.
You’ll know right away that it’s the Nutcracker but Ellington “injected his own music style into it,” says McNeill.
Tchaikovsky might have scratched his head about the revised names of the sections: Toot Toot Tootie Toot instead of the Dance of the Reed-Pipes, Peanut Brittle Brigade instead of the March, Arabesque Cookie in place of Arabian Dance and — the best one — Sugar Rum Cherry rather than Dance of the Sugar- Plum Fairy.
Ellington’s band had its own unique sound, in part because he composed with the strengths and style of his players in mind.
“Ellington’s instrument was his band — a collection of very strong individuals,” says McNeill.
Getting the right feel and groove will be the main challenge for the Metro players. You don’t have to be a virtuoso to play the music, McNeill notes, but at the same time “it was written for brilliant musicians and there’s definitely some heat in all the parts.”
The Metro Jazz Ensemble is a professional big band. Because of its size and the costs involved, it doesn’t play often. Its last concert performance was opening for Christine and Ingrid Jensen at the jazz festival this summer.
McNeill wants the band to get more gigs, so the Nutcracker concert is the first of what he hopes will develop into a series at the Third Avenue United Church, which is making the transition to a full-time concert hall.
“This seemed like a great one to start with,” said McNeill.