Duke Ellington wrote this suite after performing with his band and later spending a few days going to plays and experiencing the great Shakespearean Festival in Stratford, Ontario in 1956.. Ellington was so inspired by all of this that over almost a year he and his alter-ego Billy Strayhorn composed the twelve movements of "Such Sweet Thunder". All of the pieces are Ellington and Strayhorn's concepts of Shakespearean characters. Lady McBeth, Othello, Henry V, Hamlet etc. The orchestra is at it's peak and all of the legendary members are at their best. Johnny Hodges, Clark Terry, Quentin Jackson, Paul Gonsalves, Jimmy Hamilton and others are on board for twelve movements of amazingly original music. "Such Sweet Thunder" is an Ellington masterpiece.....sit back and enjoy!
