Welcome to Philadelphia Jazz Project
PJP’s Jazzy Christmas Celebration
Dec 6, 2014
From LOVE Park to Penn’s Landing, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Philadelphia is blessed with many family holiday traditions, including everyone’s favorite, the Wanamaker Organ Christmas Light Show.
Back in the day, families would go to the Gallery at Market East and sing holiday songs around the “Musical Christmas Tree,” including “Frosty the Snowman.”
Well, that was then. Today’s list of not-to-be-missed Christmas events includes Frosty 2: A Cool Holiday Jazz Celebration that has something for every member of the family.
Presented by the Philadelphia Jazz Project [PJP], this is not your parents’ sing-along. You see, Frosty doesn’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice. He just wants you and yours to have a cool yule. Co-produced and hosted by J. Michael Harrison of WRTI, there will be seasonal cheer for the entire family.
Harrison said:
Frosty 2 provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with an onslaught of talent, during a really special time of the year. Here’s an event that will bring families, friends and fans of great music together to experience some of Philadelphia’s best, in a historic and beautiful venue that many have never seen.
The concert will feature the vocal stylings of the Ladies of DivaNation – Barbara Montgomery, Bethlehem, Carol Harris, Ella Gahnt, Gretchen Elise, Kendrah E. Butler, Liz Filantes and Saudah Al Akbar, as well as Rhenda Fearrington, Paul Jost, Kevin Valentine and C Young.
Fearrington is also Vocal Director. She said Frosty is about family and sharing stories:
The holidays are an important indicator of our spiritual well-being. The songs rendered, and the stories being told by each of our 13 singers, express our faith in a nurturing environment. All the while, we will create an atmosphere of support from the audience to the stage if but for a few hours in a cozy place we'll call home. All are welcome!
Philadelphia Jazz Project Director Homer Jackson said:
The goal of Frosty is to bring Philadelphia together as a family. We will show just how much talent lives and works in this city. This is the second annual Frosty celebration. Last year, we all had a ball. The folks on the stage had as much fun, if not more fun than the audience did in their seats. Expect virtuoso performances, lots of smiling, great company and with 13 singers, some amazing songs.
Also appearing on the stage will be Guitarist Monnette Sudler, Vibraphonist Tony Miceli, Drummer Craig McIver, Bassist Matt Parrish, and Violinists Diane Monroe, Noah Jackson and Ben Sutin.
If you are mad about the saxophone, you don’t want to miss “Tenor Madness” featuring Sam Reed, Elliott Levin, Tim Price, Michael Pedicin Jr. and Carl Grubbs.
Music Director Diane Monroe added:
Frosty is providing a rare ‘holiday’ of showcasing Philly talent from all ages, genders and backgrounds, which speaks to equality and camaraderie that forever embody the spirit of jazz.
The set list is not yet set. But you can expect to hear rhythmic and jazzy spins of holiday favorites such as “Jingle Bells,” “Let It Snow,” “Santa Baby!,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Silent Night.”
With the lush sounds of Billy Strayhorn still filling the air, get ready for selections from Duke Ellington and Strayhorn’s “The Nutcracker Suite,” a rearrangement of “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Hyich Tchaikovsky.
The jazzy celebration will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2014, at the Irvine Auditorium, 3401 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA. The concert is from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:45 p.m.).
To get the festivities started, join us from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in Café ’58 for refreshments and holiday shopping.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children, seniors, and students with ID. It’s more at the door so save some money and buy your tickets in advance.
While it may be cold outside, come inside the Irvine Auditorium for a soulful celebration with family and friends.
Written by Faye Anderson
Faye Anderson is a public policy consultant and civic innovator. She focuses on the intersection of technology, public policy and civic engagement. She is also the project manager for All That Philly Jazz, a digital history project that's mapping Philadelphia's Jazz heritage. Find her at http://trackingchange.info
