One of
Duke Ellington
's most delightful adaptations of another composer's material is his reworking of
Tchaikovsky
's
"Nutcracker Suite"
into jazz; this version is a classic and well worth treasuring.
Ellington
's reworking of
Grieg
"Peer Gynt Suites"
(including
"In the Hall of the Mountain King"
) and his tribute to
John Steinbeck
(
"Suite Thursday"
) are also among his better extended works, really utilizing the unique tones of his distinctive sidemen. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow