On Wednesday, November 23, bring your Thanksgiving house guests to the Charleston Music Hall for a first set featuring Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s renowned jazz version of Nutcracker Suite. “It’s a long-form work that’s rarely performed,” explains Jack McCray, who hosts the CJO’s shows and is an advising board member for the orchestra’s presenting organization, Jazz Artists of Charleston. “Our musicians love to take on pieces as challenging as Nutcracker Suite, and it was so popular when we did it at the first Holiday Swing, that we decided to make it a tradition.”
In the second set, the CJO performs a selection of their biggest hits from 2011—the perfect way to wrap up their third spectacular season.
Charleston Jazz Orchestra performs Holiday Swing at 7 p.m. on November 23 at Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street. For tickets ($25-$40), call (843) 641-0011 or visit jazzartistsofcharleston.org.
