MAS Presents: Mr Sun Plays Ellington's Nutcracker

Name: MAS Presents: Mr Sun Plays Ellington's Nutcracker
Start: 2025-12-18T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-12-18T22:00:00-07:00
Location: The Savoy Denver

Schedule

Thu Dec 18 2025 at 07:00 pm to 10:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

The Savoy Denver | Denver, CO

All ages welcome | Doors @ 7:00 PM | Music @ 8:00 PM
RIYL: Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile, David Grisman, Punch Brothers
If you haven’t heard of the cheerfully named supergroup Mr Sun, you’ve almost certainly heard of its members — four of the most celebrated musicians on today’s American roots and acoustic music scene.
For this special performance, Mr. Sun reimagines Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s legendary jazz adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite — one of the most beloved works in Western music. Their reinterpretation pays tribute to Ellington’s sly, sophisticated vision while channeling it through the adventurous spirit of the modern string band. The result is a vibrant, genre-blurring celebration that honors tradition while pushing the boundaries of acoustic music.
About The Artists
Darol Anger, renowned fiddler, composer, and educator, is a founding member of genre-defining ensembles such as the Turtle Island Quartet, Psychograss, and Republic of Strings. A former member of the David Grisman Quintet and a professor emeritus at Berklee College of Music, Anger has long been a driving force in the evolution of contemporary string band music.
Joe K. Walsh, mandolin virtuoso and expressive vocalist, is a former member of the award-winning Gibson Brothers and currently serves as a professor in the Strings Department at Berklee.
Grant Gordy, widely respected as one of the most versatile and inventive guitarists of his generation, spent years touring with David Grisman and brings a dazzling blend of jazz, bluegrass, and swing to the ensemble.
Aidan O’Donnell, a phenomenal bassist from Scotland, is known for his work across jazz, folk, and classical traditions, and has collaborated with the likes of Maeve Gilchrist and numerous modern jazz luminaries.
The four musical personalities of Mr Sun are so strong that one might imagine the group could burst at the seams if not for the palpable love and humor that emanate from every note they play together. At any moment, one might hear a tight bluegrass groove give way to a swinging jazz phrase, a chamber-style interlude, or a daring improvisation. Whether reinterpreting classic works or performing original compositions, Mr. Sun’s music is richly textured, rhythmically exciting, and always emotionally resonant.
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MAS Presents: Intimate gatherings sparked by live music
www.maspresents.org