The Joy of Jazz for the Holidays in Tucson

Tucson, AZ (November 15, 2024) –Nothing says “Christmas Time Is Here” like the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s classic rendition of the song from the 1965 Charlie Brown Christmas special. Last year, the Century Room started a new holiday tradition by performing the “Charlie Brown Christmas” album LIVE in its entirety by some of Tucson’s finest jazz musicians. The show was so popular last year all three sets sold out, so this year, two additional sets are being offered as family-centered Sunday matinees!

Another Century Room holiday tradition is the 17-piece Century Room Jazz Orchestra performing Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite! The band is offering five different showings of the holiday classic on Friday December 20^th and Monday December 23rd. The CRJO is an intergenerational big band that features professional musicians, educators and students performing together, every Monday night.

Other Holiday shows include NYC pianist Ted Rosenthal performing music from his holiday album “Wonderland” and the amazing up and coming pianist Christian Sands with his LA based trio performing music from his new album “Christmas Stories.” (Christian Sands has performed in Tucson three times before, twice at the Century Room and once at the Fox Theater during the Tucson Jazz Festival with Monterey Jazz On Tour!) Pete Swan’s big band will present a Holiday show with vocalist Liz Cracchiolo, who will also perform with the “Cool Yule Trio”. While there will be plenty of Holiday cheer to go around, the Century Room will also have their regular Hot Jazz Wednesday programming and Sunday night jam sessions throughout the season.

New Year’s Eve at the Century Room has taken audiences back to 1920s New York, 1930s Cuba and now this year to 1940s Paris! Their latest NYE show “Midnight In Paris” will feature the music of Edith Piaf, Django Reinhardt and Cole Porter performed by the chanson of Katherine Byrnes and Paris native Naim Amor, accompanied by the Jazz Manouche of the Hot Club of Tucson. Guests can choose from two shows, each with its own champagne toast, and create a memory to last a lifetime – an affair to remember as we dance forward again into the future together. The Century Room – time travel at its best! For tickets and information on all shows at the Century Room visit centuryroomtucson.com. Talent photos available upon request.

HOLIDAY SHOW HIGHLIGHTS:

December 14 | The Ted Rosenthal Trio: Wonderland

($20-$30 tickets | 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Beloved NYC piano player, composer and educator Ted Rosenthal returns to the Century Room for a very special holiday event as he plays through his album “Wonderland”! Featuring Scott Black (bass) and Arthur Vint (drums).

“For those who like their holiday music sleek, chic and elegant, Wonderland takes you there”. — Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

“This fantastic collection of piano trio renditions of holiday standards Wonderland will appeal to a wide variety of listeners, making it the perfect album to play at a holiday gathering”. — Bobby Reed, Downbeat.com

Ted Rosenthal is one of the leading jazz pianist/composers of his generation. He actively tours worldwide with his trio, as a soloist, and has performed with many jazz greats, including Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and James Moody. Winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, Rosenthal has released fifteen CDs as a leader. Rhapsody in Gershwin, which features his arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue for jazz trio, reached #1 in jazz album sales at iTunes and Amazon.

December 15 | Christian Sands Trio: Christmas Stories

($30-$40 | 4:30pm & 6:30pm shows) Grammy-nominated pianist Christian Sands returns to the Century Room playing selections from his album “Christmas Stories”! Featuring Jermaine Paul (bass) and Jonathan Pinson (drums).

Pianist/composer Christian Sands’ cinematic approach to popular holiday classics takes center stage with Christmas Stories, his first album since his critically acclaimed, Grammy-nominated 2020 release Be Water. Having performed in-demand Christmas shows at Jazz at Lincoln Center and around the world, Sands offers such classics as “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” as well as a few surprises.

December 16 | Pete Swan’s Swingin’ Holiday Big Band!

($20-$30 tickets | 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Drummer, producer and educator Pete Swan teams up with the 17-piece Century Room Jazz Orchestra for a swingin’ show of holiday tunes! With arrangements from Jazz at Lincoln Center and re-imagined burning versions of classic holiday repertoire, this show will feature up-tempo grooves, bombastic horn lines and incredible solos from the best players in town! Joining the band is special guest vocalist Liz Cracchiolo!

December 19 | Liz Cracchiolo with the Cool Yule Trio | Warm In December

($15-$25 tickets | 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Celebrated vocalist Liz Cracchiolo returns to the Century Room for a wonderful winter wondershow! Liz and her band the Cool Yule Trio swing through classic holiday songs and fantastic jazz. Last year’s show sold out quickly, so a 2^nd show has been added this year!

December 20 | CRJO Performs Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite Night One!

($25-$35 | 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room. For this special holiday show, the band will be playing Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s arrangement of The Nutcracker Suite plus other Ellington classics.

The original cover for the 1960 big band album, “The Nutcracker Suite,” presented three people as the authors, all with equal font size and inhabiting the same line: “Ellington. Strayhorn. Tchaikovsky.” It was as if to announce a convergence of historical import, like a world summit or long-awaited crossover comic. This was not just any old Christmas album, that commercial phenomenon of repackaging holiday hits. By adapting Tchaikovsky’s score for jazz orchestra, Ellington was poised to both widen the appeal of his band and cement his status as a genius composer.

December 21 | A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Music of Vince Guaraldi

($15-$25 tickets | 4:30pm & 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Last year’s performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was so popular that a thrud show was added. This year, the band is getting out ahead of it by offering three shows on Saturday and two matinee performances on Sunday! Angelo Versace, Scott Black and Arthur Vint will play Vince Guaraldi Trio’s much beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” along with a selection of other Vince Guaraldi compositions.

The classic album had a profound impact on jazz and pop culture by introducing a unique blend of jazz and Christmas music to a wider audience. Released in 1965, it helped popularize jazz among mainstream listeners and became synonymous with the holiday season. Guaraldi’s compositions, particularly “Linus and Lucy,” remain enduring classics.

December 22 | A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Music of Vince Guaraldi

($15-$25 tickets | 2:30pm-4:30pm shows) Last year’s performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was so popular that a thrud show was added. This year, the band is getting out ahead of it by offering three shows on Saturday and two matinee performances on Sunday! Angelo Versace, Scott Black and Arthur Vint will play Vince Guaraldi Trio’s much beloved “A Charlie Brown Christmas” along with a selection of other Vince Guaraldi compositions. Kid friendly!

December 23 | CRJO Performs Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite Night Two!

December 30 | CRJO Presents: New Year’s Eve Eve!

($25-$35 | 6:30pm & 8:30pm shows) Inspired by the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the 17-piece CRJO performs classic big band repertoire every Monday night at the Century Room. For this special New Year’s Eve show, celebrate a night early with Arizona’s best big band! They’ll play bigb and classics and celebrate a toast with a special big band arrangement of “Auld Lang Syne”. Come dressed to to impress for this black tie encouraged affair!

December 31 | Midnight in Paris: Katherine Byrnes, Naim Amor & The Hot Club of Tucson

($45-$65 | 9pm & 11:30pm shows) Imagine a New Year’s Eve in Paris sometime in the early 20^th Century, the city sparkling like a glass of champagne. The soundtrack to the party changes from decade to decade: in the 1920s it would have been scored by American-expat Cole Porter, while the 1930s would feature the sound of Django Reinhardt and his Hot Club of France. In the 1940s, the voice of Edith Piaf would echo through the City of Light, with the remembrance of things past. This New Year’s Eve, the Century Room brings you all these magical eras with “Midnight In Paris”, featuring the chanson of Katherine Byrnes and Paris native Naim Amor, accompanied by the Jazz Manouche of the Hot Club of Tucson. Guests can choose from two shows, each with its own champagne toast, and create a memory to last a lifetime – an affair to remember as we dance forward again into the future together. The Century Room – time travel at its best!