Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite

by Mr Sun

supported by

How fabulous this is! My now favorite holiday album~ just wonderful, a gift for my ears and mind <3

more...

	/

Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 1 day

Purchasable with gift card

$30 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
Includes unlimited streaming of Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 1 day

Purchasable with gift card

$20 USD or more
Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$15 USD or more
The Everything Bagel

Join now to receive all the new music Adhyâropa Records releases, including this album and 66 back-catalog items, delivered instantly to you via the Bandcamp app for iOS and Android. Learn more.

Join Now $100 USD/year or more

1.	Overture 05:13	buy track
2.	Pea Shooter Parade (March) 04:49	buy track
3.	Reedy Rootin Tootin Pipey Gripey Waltz (Dance Of The Reed-Pipes) 05:17	buy track
4.	Yangtze Dawdle (Danse Chinoise) 02:43	buy track
5.	Sugared Rum? Spare Me! (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy) 05:29	buy track
6.	Entr'acte 01:43	buy track
7.	Shovasky's Transmogrifatron (Ballet Snow Scene) 03:49	buy track
8.	(don't) Walk On The Flowers (Waltz Of The Flowers) 05:24	buy track
9.	100% Arabica (Arabian Dance) 05:52	buy track
10.	Russian Fox Chase (Trepak) 03:19	buy track

about

American Roots Music thrives on growing new branches from its grand traditions, and the band Mr Sun, and its individual members, have long been actively re-shaping the acoustic musical landscape. For Mr Sun’s tenth anniversary, this celebrated company of virtuoso string players has reinterpreted the legendary Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite, bringing this monumental reimagining of the iconic Tchaikovsky piece into the acoustic string band world.

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite contains some of the most beloved and familiar melodies in the Western world. Mr Sun has seized upon the inspiration of Duke Ellington’s brilliant, sly, and urbane re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Suite, recorded in 1960 to universal acclaim. Mr Sun took the opportunity to salute and re-invent this wildly multi-faceted work anew through the lens of the American String Band, a musical format which encompasses myriad styles and is engaged in a marathon upheaval of innovation and expansion. In Mr Sun's new reading, the pieces of the Suite range from close interpretations of Billy Strayhorn’s original charts to intense extrapolations based on the spirit of the material.

Mr Sun is legendary fiddler Darol Anger (founding member of the hugely influential David Grisman Quintet, Turtle Island String Quartet) mandolin master Joe K. Walsh (Joy Kills Sorrow, the Gibson Brothers, Danny Barnes), guitar hero Grant Gordy (David Grisman Quintet, Karen Casey, Danny Barnes) and the great bassist Aidan O’Donnell (Maeve Gilchrist, Steve Kuhn).

Their studio of choice was a state-of-the art recording facility built by the Mass/MOCA Art Museum. The recording engineer was the legendary David Sinko, who recorded most of the most important, innovative acoustic string bands of the last 40 years. Mr Sun will premiere the work at the Freshgrass Festival at Mass/MOCA in September of 2023, concurrent with the release of their recording on Adhyâropa Records. The Project was generously underwritten by the Freshgrass Foundation.

credits

released December 1, 2023

Darol Anger, fiddle
Joe Walsh, mandolin
Grant Gordy, guitar
Aidan O'Donnell, bass

license

about

Mr Sun Nashville, Tennessee

Mr Sun comprises three generations of some of the sharpest minds to apply themselves to the American String Band: Legendary fiddler Darol Anger, Joe K. Walsh—one of the foremost contemporary mandolinists, Grant Gordy—a standout in the crowded field of Acoustic Guitar Wunderkinds, and masterful bassist Aidan O'Donnell, is a Brooklyn, New York (by way of Scotland) jazz veteran. ... more

contact / help

Contact Mr Sun

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Mr Sun, you may also like:

If Not Now, Who?
by Joe K. Walsh

supported by 76 fans who also own “Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite”

Everything about this wonderful recording works beautifully! The writing is fun and adventurous without being pretentious or contrived, the musicianship is awe-inspiring ... every single note is played with gravity, intention and purpose and the whole thing is a joy-filled experience for both the ears and soul. In the time since Joe released "Borderland" I'd convinced myself that I couldn't possibly love his music more. Along comes "If Not Now, Who?", and I stand corrected. Wayne Fugate
go to album
Peripheral Visions
by Grant Gordy

supported by 73 fans who also own “Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite”

Retired Music teacher friend, David Hegdahl, has a former student, Grant Gordy, who has become an AMAZING guitarist...one of my favorite genres...like gypsy jazz: acoustic guitar, mandolin, violin, double bass...WELL worth the listen/purchase...ENJOY! Dirk Snyder
go to album
Bluegrass and the Abstract Truth
by Greg Garrison, Grant Gordy, Alex Hargreaves, Joe K. Walsh

supported by 68 fans who also own “Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite”

Thank you for some wonderful sounds to chew on. elfgerber
go to album
When Carolina Comes Home Again
by Jim Lauderdale

The latest from Jim Lauderdale is exclusive to Bandcamp, its songs drawing on bluegrass, country, and classic American music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 28, 2020
go to album
Time Flies
by Jim Lauderdale

The latest from Jim Lauderdale is a showcase for his heavily-detailed songwriting and soaring country melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable May 27, 2018
go to album
Dark Wheels Turn Above Our Heads
by Lewis Burner

Hard-edged alt-country that draws on the pinwheeling melodies of bluegrass and classic folk, bolstering them with pounding rhythms. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 4, 2020
go to album
Our Delight
by Grant Gordy And Jacob Jolliff

supported by 47 fans who also own “Mr Sun Plays Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite”

these guys are amazing individually and as a duo. this project reminds me of the Joe Pass/Herb Ellis duo alums i wore out years ago -- so much talent and energy. It's really fun to listen to! Robert French
go to album