Aardvark Jazz Orchestra Zoom Event: 49th Annual Christmas Concert

Called “stunningly beautiful” (the New York City Jazz Record), The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra will hold its 49th Annual Christmas Concert in a Live Zoom Event on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 7:00 pm.  Veteran jazz journalist Fred Bouchard will interview Mark Harvey, and they’ll play an archival recording of Aardvark’s 2013 performance of the Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite – live concert audio with captivating visuals on Nutcracker themes.   The Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn arrangement (1960) of Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker Suite is 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, and the Waltz of the Flowers becomes the Dance of the Floreadores.

In the Zoom interview, Mark will share his take on the arranging approach, orchestration and stylistic breadth of the Nutcracker Suite and it’s striking fit with the Aardvark aesthetic.  Fred and Mark will discuss the history of the Aardvark Christmas, including the very first show in 1973, the 25th anniversary with Sheila Jordan, and anecdotes across the decades.  After the Nutcracker video, Mark and Fred will join the audience for Live Zoom questions and conversations.   “Aardvark and Ellington are an ideal couple.” (AllAboutJazz.com)  The event is free but registration is required.  Please sign up here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aardvark-jazz-orchestra-49th-annual-christmas-concert-zoom-event-tickets-224371530287