Monday, November 26, 2018

A guide to holiday jazz in St. Louis

The holiday season has always brought with it plenty of thematic music, and here in St. Louis, recent years have seen a proliferation of performances aimed at those who'd like to mix some jazz with their jingle bells.

Here's a quick look at some noteworthy holiday-themed jazz shows starting this week and continuing throughout the next month:

Kenny G "The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour"
8:00 p.m., Friday, November 30
Touhill Performing Arts Center
If the G-Man's albums were filed in a record-store bin labeled "instrumental pop," he'd probably attract less scorn from many jazz fans. In the meantime, he's on tour with his annual holiday show, and presumably laughing all the way to the bank. $49 - $99.

Washington University Student Big Band and Jazz Combos "Jazz Celebration"
8:00 p.m., Friday, November 30
560 Music Center
Wash U students perform a program of holiday songs. Free and open to the public.

"Holiday Jazz" with Marion Meadows, Alex Bugnon & Mark Harris II
7:00 p.m. Saturday, December 1
Sun Theatre
Smooth jazz saxophonist Meadows and keyboardist Bugnon team up for a program of seasonal favorites, with some help from St. Louis keyboardist Harris. $67.50 plus $10 service charge.

"Jazz for the Holidays" with the UMSL Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Point and University Symphony Orchestra
3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2
Touhill Performing Arts Center
UMSL music students perform in their annual holiday concert. Free and open to the public.

Lynne Fiddmont
4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 2
Sheldon Concert Hall
Singer and St. Louis native Fiddmont, who now lives in California, comes home for a concert that will include selections from her album Spirit of Christmas. $35 general admission plus $4.75 service charge.

Webster University Jazz Singers 
7:00 p.m., Monday, December 3
Winifred Moore Auditorium
Webster U students under the direction of Debby Lennon present a program of seasonal songs. $5 general admission, free to students with ID.

Route 66 Jazz Orchestra's Third Annual "Half A Holiday Concert"
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 4
Sheldon Concert Hall
St. Louis-based Route 66 Orchestra presents one set of big band jazz and one set of holiday music. $15 general admission.

Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch - "Snowfall"
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 5
7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 6
Jazz St. Louis
A winter-themed show from singer and Broadway actress Ebersole and singer/pianist Stritch, part of the cabaret series being co-presented this year by Jazz St. Louis and Cabaret Project of St. Louis. $46.50 & $41.50 adults, $11.50 students

Dave Koz Holiday Show with Mindi Abair, Jonathan Butler & Keiko Matsui
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 11
Family Arena
Smooth jazz saxophonist Koz has been doing holiday shows for more than a decade, and is supported this year by fellow saxophonist Abair, singer and guitarist Butler and keyboardist Matsui. $50-$90, "VIP Experience" $198.

Storm Large "Holiday Ordeal"
8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 11
Sun Theatre
Singer and actress Large, who has performed her cabaret show here several times in recent years, gets a bigger stage for her holiday extravaganza, which already is a sell-out annual tradition in her hometown of Portland, OR. $25 & $35, "VIP" $85.

Kirk Whalum's "Gospel According to Jazz Christmas" with Sheila E, Lynn Mabry, John Stoddart & Kevin Whalum
7:00 p.m., Friday, December 14
Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church
Memphis-based saxophonist (and nephew of St. Louis' Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum) returns with guest stars for his annual holiday show. $20 & $35, "VIP" $50.

Funky Butt Brass Band "Holiday Brasstravaganza"
9:00 p.m. Friday, December 14
3:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. Saturday, December 15
3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 16
Off Broadway
St. Louis' popular New Orleans-style brass band has expanded again for the eighth year of their holiday show, adding a family-friendly Sunday matinee and Sunday evening show for a total of five performances. $18-$25 for evening performances, $5 and $10 for matinees.

"Jazz Noel" with Oikos Ensemble and Java Jived
3:00 p.m., Saturday, December 15
Parkway United Church of Christ
3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 16
First Congregational United Church of Christ
"Re-imagining the Christmas story through jazz for today’s audience." Free and open to the public.

The 442s and Friends "Holiday Spectacular"
7:30 p.m., Monday, December 17
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 18
560 Music Center
Eclectic instrumental quartet plus guest stars present originals and holiday favorites. $15 - $30.

Jazz St. Louis Big Band plays Ellington's "Nutcracker"
7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 18
7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 19
7:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Thursday, December 20
Jazz St. Louis
Hear Duke Ellington's re-imagining of Tchaikovsky's famous work played live by a big band of St. Louis musicians, plus additional favorites from the Ellington catalog. $21.50 balcony; $26.50 floor; $21.50 military, police & fire; $11.50 students.

"A Gospel Christmas" with Take 6 and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 20
Powell Hall
The Grammy Award-winning vocal group, orchestra and In Unison chorus perform "unforgettable contemporary gospel renditions of favorite holiday classics and more." Sold out; for information on standing room tickets, call the SLSO box office at 314-534-1700.

Dean Christopher "Rat Pack Christmas"
7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 20
Sheldon Concert Hall
Singer and impressionist Christopher offers seasonal songs in the style of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and more. $15 general admission.

Harry Connick Jr. "A New Orleans Tricentennial Celebration... Holiday Edition"
7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 20
Stifel Theatre
The famed singer, pianist, actor, and talk show host and his big band perform Christmas music and more in a New Orleans style. $147, $112, $77 and $52.

Jim Manley's Mad Brass and Rhythm "A Very Manley Christmas"
7:30 p.m., & 9:30 p.m., Friday, December 21
7:30 p.m., & 9:30 p.m., Saturday, December 22
Jazz St. Louis
St. Louis trumpeter and his seven-piece band offer high-energy versions of holiday favorites. $21.50 & $15.50, students $11.50.

Do you know of any holiday jazz shows in St. Louis that we missed? If so, please share the relevant info in the comments.

Edited 11/27/18 to add the Webster University Jazz Singers performance.

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