Jazz aficionados and general purveyors of celebration are invited to get in the seasonal swing at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center in Manhattan for Big Band Holidays with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO). The show, led in its 13th year by JLCO trombonist and arranger Chris Crenshaw who will “bring new life to classic tunes,” according to the Jazz at Lincoln Center website, will run now through December 21. Crenshaw and the orchestra will be joined by guest vocalists Kate Kortum, winner of the coveted Sarah Vaughn International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2025, and JLCO mainstay Shenel Johns, who recently made an appearance at the debut of Wnyton Marsalis’ Afro! In September. The lineup is rounded out by trumpeters Michael Rodriguez, Ryan Kisor, Kenny Rampton, and Marcus Printup, trombonists Vincent Gardner (12/16-12/20), Nick Mesler (12/21), and Elliot Mason, woodwind players Sherman Irby, Alexa Tarantino, Chris Lewis, Abdias Armenteros, and Paul Nedzela, pianist Dan Nimmer, drummer Obed Calvaire, and bassist Carlos Henriquez, who most recently led the JLCO in a celebration of Celia Cruz’s 100th birthday.
All shows will feature a pre-show performance in Ertegun Atrium, except the Dec. 20 at p.m. performance. Families are invited to participate in making holiday crafts provided by the Craft Studio starting one hour before the Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. shows. Performances on Sunday are “Relaxed Performances,” and are “designed for people with autism, sensory, and communication disorders or learning disabilities,” according to the website. Students can register for a discount program at jazz.org, and $10 hot seat tickets are available for some performances — you can inquire about availability by calling 212-259-9800. Tickets for all performances can be found at jazz.org.