Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
The Cliff Bell's Jazz Orchestra plays Duke Ellington's full Nutcracker Suite on Friday, December 11, with shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Cliff Bell's in Detroit. Josh James directs an 18-piece big band, and tickets are $30.
Ellington reworked Tchaikovsky's holiday classic into jazz, and it's rare to hear his arrangement performed in full. The Cliff Bell's Jazz Orchestra takes it on under Josh James, with a lineup of Detroit jazz musicians the club counts among its favorites.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner. Seating for the Dinner & a Show package begins at 6 p.m., and seating for the second show starts at 9 p.m. Reservations are how you get a table.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner. Seating for the Dinner & a Show package begins at 6 p.m., and seating for the second show starts at 9 p.m. Reservations are how you get a table.
This description was prepared from source information with AI assistance. Check the organizer’s latest details before heading out.
Source: Cliff Bell’s ↗
Last successful source check: Oct 12, 2026, 4:17 AM
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