Big Band Holiday Concerts

Jerry Swanberg, host of KBEM's "Big Band Scene," has compiled a list of Big Band Holiday and Christmas Concerts happening in Minneapolis-St. Paul. The first few have passed (the KC Gospel Orchestra and choirs on December 3-4 and the Classics Big Band on December 10), and another--the Century Jazz Ensemble on December 12--was postponed due to Snowmageddon and will be rescheduled. (I'm guessing the same is true for the Just Friends Big Band show, originally scheduled for December 12.) There's still plenty left to choose from. What Jerry says:
 

• The RUSS PETERSON BIG BAND will celebrate Christmas with a concert called “Swinging All The Way”, featuring vocalists Debbie Duncan, Patty Peterson, Bob Glenn, and Russ’s son Damon Peterson, plus pianist Jeanne Arland Peterson. The concert takes place on Monday, 12/13 at the Old Log Theater in Excelsior, at 7:30 PM. For tickets call 952-474-5951.

• The BEND IN THE RIVER BIG BAND, directed by Bob Hallquist, is performing two Christmas concerts on the weekend of Dec. 18 & 19. On Saturday, they will be performing a joint concert at 7 PM with the Choir of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie. Then on Sunday at 7 PM, they will be at the Edinborough Parks Indoor Amphitheater in Edina. Both concerts are FREE. The vocalist with the band is Linnea Nelson Marrin. 

• The GOOD NEWS BIG BAND directed by bass trombonist Brian Richter, will be present a Christmas Concert on Sunday, 12/19, at Excelsior Covenant Church at 7 PM. You‘ll hear some holiday songs sung by vocalist Teresa Jackson.   

• After Christmas, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, “Jazz @ St. Barneys” will present the JAZZ ON THE PRAIRIE BIG BAND & the JUST FRIENDS BIG BAND, performing a Big Band Christmas at St. Barnabas Center for the Arts, at 15600 Old Rockford Rd. in Plymouth, at 7 PM. It’s Two Bands for the Price of One! 

• On New Year's Eve, vocalists  Colleen Raye, Debbie O’Keefe, & Sophia Grimm, will perform a concert with the MINNESOTA JAZZ ORCHESTRA, at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, WI, at 6 & 8:30 PM. The program will include holiday tunes from the Swing Era. For tickets, call 715-386-8409.

• On New Year’s Eve, from 9 PM – 12:30, JERRY O’HAGAN & HIS ORCHESTRA with vocalist Charmin Michelle will host a Ballroom / Swing Dance at the Cinema Ballroom, 1560 St. Clair Ave, in St. Paul. They will have a cash bar, plus midnight hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and champagne from Cosetta’s. For info, go to www.cinemaballroom.com or call 651-699-5910.

Listen to BIG BAND SCENE on KBEM / Jazz 88 on Monday, 12/13 and Sunday, 12/19 for a preview of the Big Band Christmas “Jazz@ St. Barney's” concert.     

The Capri Big Band Holiday Concert scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11, was also postponed because of the storm.