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’s “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