I Wonder if Tchaikovsky Could Do Jazz

The Nutcracker in Harlem
Written by T. E. McMorrow & Illustrated by James Ransome
Age Level: 6-9 Years
Published September 26, 2017

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A Christmas classic, reimagined.

Press pause on Tchaikovsky and take a moment to reimagine The Nutcracker scored to jazz music composed at its peak in the 1920’s during the Harlem Renaissance.

The bones of the story closely resemble the classic tale penned by Prussian author E. T. A. Hoffman in 1816. Young Marie is gifted a toy Nutcracker, which comes alive and battles with a Mouse King and its army. Just when the Nutcracker and toy soldiers are about to be overtaken, Marie steps in and saves the day by taking up a drum and providing the rhythm for a successful battle.

“Every year, Uncle Cab would give Marie a doll and Freddie some toy soldiers. They were carved from a magical wood, Uncle Cab always said.”

Author T. E. McMorrow cites his time working as a stagehand for the Dance Theatre of Harlem as the chief source of inspiration for this book. He knew he wanted to craft a re-telling of the Nutcracker, and he knew he wanted it to be in Harlem, a place where art and culture flourished in the Jazz Age of the 1920s. He even based two characters in the book, “Aunt Addie” and “Uncle Cab,” off of jazz legends Adelaide Hill and Cab Calloway.

Through luscious, richly colored illustrations and enchanting storytelling, reading this book is just as captivating as watching the story unfold on stage. And I’m thrilled that this book gave me the opportunity to introduce the story of The Nutcracker to my children with black characters and culture front and center.

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