Ellington's Jazz Nutcracker with CWU Jazz Band at The Seasons Performance Hall

It's a Holiday Matinee for families and students of all ages to hear the great Tchaikovsky "Nutcracker Suite" as transformed in 1960 by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn into an American jazz masterpiece. And performed by one of the best college jazz bands in the country: the Central Washington University Jazz Band under the direction of Chris Bruya.

A modern classic, The Jazz Nutcracker is filled with energy, intelligence, swing and all the innovation and improvisation of the jazz age. Each of its songs take off from one of the beloved originals from Tchaikovsky's beloved Holiday Classic, and while the source is recognizable, each is transformed and magnified into a snappy, humorous, high-energy platform for musical fun and improvisation. ...

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It's a Holiday Matinee for families and students of all ages to hear the great Tchaikovsky "Nutcracker Suite" as transformed in 1960 by Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn into an American jazz masterpiece. And performed by one of the best college jazz bands in the country: the Central Washington University Jazz Band under the direction of Chris Bruya.

A modern classic, The Jazz Nutcracker is filled with energy, intelligence, swing and all the innovation and improvisation of the jazz age. Each of its songs take off from one of the beloved originals from Tchaikovsky's beloved Holiday Classic, and while the source is recognizable, each is transformed and magnified into a snappy, humorous, high-energy platform for musical fun and improvisation.

The Central Washington Jazz Band has, under the baton of Chris Bruya, become one of the best jazz bands in the country. They have played at the Monterrey Jazz Festival and won awards at most of the major competitions in which they have participated. It's an ideal time for local high school and middle school musicians and their families to meet the next generation of great players from Central Washington

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