Ellington and Strayhorn's HALRMEN NUTCRACKER SUITE Performed by Marcus Shelby Orchestra

Last night, to a very receptive packed house at the Raven Performing Arts Theater in Healdsburg, the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra performed HARLEM NUTCRACKER SUITE (HNS). Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy arrangements on Tchaikovsky's classic Nutcracker. The genius of the Duke and Shelby have taken Tchaikovsky's beloved compositions and molded the melodic melodies into a swinging, scintillating fantasy with a magic all its own. In fact, Tchaikovsky is not only rolling over in his grave when these rollicking scores are played, his bones are tapping along with glee at the sultry and delightful  improvisations rendered. These alluring appropriations have created an expansive audience to Tchaikovsky's more staid in comparison, compositions. Ellington and Strayhorn collaboration on HNS add a sense of humor and liveliness with a witty wink in their wordplay in the titles for the various sections. The suites Shelby selected were a sweet and sassy mix. My favorite was Danse of the "Floreadores" along with "Peanut Butter Brigade", "Sugar Rum Cherry" and "Volga Vouty." The program opened with a trio of teen performers on piano, drums and sax. Shelby who mentors youths in musical programs in Sonoma communities played alongside on bass. In Shelby's full orchestra, he singled out his youngest band mate on horn who had been a prior student. Healdsburg's own Poet Laureate regaled us with her assured, stentorian voice with two of her original poems. Both were tributes to the creative talents of Ellington and Strayhorn. Her lyrical prose praised the contributions of these two legends and the quintessence of jazz. A slide show of treats, winter landscapes and cool neon stage lights helped set a holiday jive. The program was bookended by jazz vocalist, Tiffany Austin. Austin carried along the international theme intrinsic in the original Nutcracker by singing selections from Japan, India and South Africa in the country's native tongue. The selection from Japan was the most pleasing and perhaps owing to Austin having lived there for five years. The garrulous banter from both Austin and Shelby was jolly although less talk and more playing would have fared better with me. Austin asked if we were ready to receive a special guest which was disappointingly a musical tuning bowl in lieu of a live guest. She also said, "I'm going to end with an obscure holiday song." But, ended instead with an alluring performance of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song." Shelby then asked the audience to stand for the final send off for the evening, a rousing arrangement of "Jingle Bells".  And, to all who were there, it was a good night.