Duke Ellington devoted major efforts over the last three decades of his life to pieces that were, if not entirely “classical” in inspiration, at least composed upon the canvas of Western concert music. The jazz interpretation of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky that he arranged with Billy Strayhorn has been among the most popular of these efforts. The Nutcracker Suite was recorded for the Columbia label in 1960. The original 1960 cover is notable for the inclusion of Strayhorn’s name and picture along with Ellington’s. (sources: allmusic, wikipedia)