‘Bending Towards The Light … A Jazz Nativity’
The traditional story told in full costume with great jazz players and singers playing all the roles.
Never has there been such a combination of jazz and theater!
People of all faiths, for jazz fans and those new to it, young and old, return year after year. The joy, love and camaraderie inherent in the show radiates throughout the audience.
The show was written and arranged by singer-songwriter Anne Phillips at the suggestion of the late John Garcia Gensel, “The Jazz Pastor” of St. Peter’s Church. The Jazz Nativity was premiered in 1985.
The original music written by Ms. Phillips, Bob Kindred and Dave and Iola Brubeck is combined with well-known carols. The soundtrack recording features the late CBS journalist Charles Kuralt as host and jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck and Tito Puente.
The show plays annually in New York and cities across the country.
“In Bethlehem in the grotto where Christ was born, a light shines into the darkness. The light is meant to serve, as light serves for so many religions and philosophies, as a symbol of truth and love and hope. Hope, that even in a dark season, we may begin to see the world BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT.”
- Charles Kuralt from The Jazz Nativity
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“Brilliant, infectious, the music roars … a spell-binding production!
- New York Amsterdam News“None of the classics is half so giddy, nor so utterly entertaining as “The Jazz Nativity.”
- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune“By the end of “The Jazz Nativity” you know you’ve been through something wonderful.”
- Dr. Billy Taylor, CBS Sunday Morning“It swings so hard you dance in your seat …
- US 1
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The Jazz Nativity 2011 welcomed Three Kings:
Houston Person
Maurice Chestnut
Wycliffe Gordon
The 2011 cast included:
The Jazz Ensemble:
Bob Kindred, Lew Soloff, Jon Gordon, Art Baron, Dean Johnson,
Tim Horner, Adam Asarnow and Candido
Singers:
Anne Phillips, Stephanie McGuire, Amy London, Robert Encila, Dylan Pramuk
Kings:
Houston Person, Maurice Chestnut, Wycliffe Gordon
Special Guests:
Jon Hendricks, Warren Vache, Russell George, Max Pollak, Arturo O'Farrill
Directed by Tad and Beth Jones
Promo Photographs:
Cover photo: Dave Rubin
Other photos: Judy Kirtley, Peter Serling
Promo video: Susanne Joshua
Performance materials, including solo and choral arrangements, available:
Wyomissing Music
170 West End Avenue
NY, NY 10023
Click here to link for BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT ... A JAZZ NATIVITY at CD Baby