CWU Presents a Jazzy Holiday Favorite

December 3, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.--Central Washington University's Jazz Band I presents a unique take on a holiday classic. As part of this year's Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series, the band will once again perform Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's "Jazz Nutcracker" under the direction of Chris Bruya, director of jazz studies at CWU.

The performance, which was inspired by Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky's original "Nutcracker," promises to entertain the audience. Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn rearranged the classic performance into a jazz masterpiece. The Duke Ellington Orchestra first performed the "Jazz Nutcracker" in 1960.

"Ellington and Strayhorn actually recomposed the ballet, creating music that is definitely jazz, the result being much more than an overlay of a jazz beat," says Bruya. "What listeners will find is that the music is familiar, yet adds new and surprising twists to their expectations."

During intermission, audience members will get an opportunity to satisfy their taste buds as they create their own hot cocoa concoction using peppermint sticks, whipped cream and marshmallows. Or they can fill up their bellies with apple cider and other yummy holiday treats.

The performance is Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, at 4 p.m. in the Music Building Concert Hall. Tickets are $14 general admission and $7 for students and are available at www.cwu.edu/president/series or by calling 509-963-1301. For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call 509-963-1426, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD 509-963-2143.

Contact: Marian Lien, CWU Office of the President, lienma@cwu.edu, 509-963-1976
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.