Boston, MA: The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra 41st Annual Christmas Concert is 21 December 2013!
December 16, 2013 at 7:30 AM ANNOUNCEMENT
Aardvark Jazz Orchestra - Photo: Erlyn Ordinario
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra (Mark Harvey, founder and music director) celebrates its 41st Annual Christmas Concert December 21 at Boston’s Emmanuel Church with one of the few performances in the country of the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite. Called “spellbinding” by The Boston Globe, Aardvark will give a rare performance of the complete Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangement (1960) of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite – an exuberant big band take on the perennial classic, in which The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy becomes the Sugar Rum Cherry, the Arabian Dance becomes Arabesque Cookie, the Russian Dance is recast as The Volga Vouty, and the Waltz of the Flowers becomes the Dance of the Floreadores.
Proceeds of the December 21 show will go to Pine Street Inn, the largest provider of permanent supportive housing, emergency shelter, job training and placement, and street outreach for homeless men and women in New England.
The December 21 show continues Aardvark’s 40-year tradition of Christmas Benefit Concerts. Every year since 1973, the band has held a holiday concert to support a deserving cause. Beneficiaries have included Doctors Without Borders, American Friends Service Committee, Rosie’s Place, The Poor Peoples United Fund and dozens more.
Members of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm
The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra 41st Annual Christmas Concert
Featuring the Complete Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite
Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
MBTA Green Line: Arlington Street Stop
Tickets: $20 at the door. Information: 617-776-8778 or 617-452-3205
Proceeds to benefit Pine Street Inn
Now in its 41st season, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is one of the longest running large jazz ensembles in the world. The band has premiered more than 150 works and has released 11 CDs, including 6 discs on the prestigious Leo Records label. Luminaries who have joined Aardvark on stage include Jimmy Giuffre, Geri Allen, Jaki Byard, Lewis Porter, Vinny Golia, Dominique Eade, Jay Clayton, Sheila Jordan, Matt Savage and Walter Thompson. Founder and music director Mark Harvey has performed as trumpeter in the U.S., Mexico and Europe; has recorded with George Russell and Baird Hersey; and performed with Gil Evans, Howard McGhee, Sam Rivers, Kenny Dorham and others. Dr. Harvey teaches jazz studies and composition at MIT, has lectured widely on religion and the arts, and is a retired minister.
Aardvark is: Arni Cheatham, Peter Bloom, Phil Scarff, Chris Rakowski, Dan Zupan/saxes and woodwinds; K.C. Dunbar, Jeanne Snodgrass/trumpets; Bob Pilkington, Jay Keyser/trombones; Jeff Marsanskis, Bill Lowe/bass trombones, tuba; Richard Nelson/guitar; John Funkhouser/string bass; Harry Wellott/drums; Jerry Edwards and Grace Hughes, vocalists; Mark Harvey/trumpet, music director.
