Healdsburg Jazz will celebrate the holidays with a performance of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Harlem Nutcracker Suite by artistic director Marcus Shelby and his orchestra. This will be an amazing concert for young people and adults to experience a reimagining of this holiday classic set in Harlem to the music of Ellington and Strayhorn performed live, an exceedingly rare experience you won’t want to miss! The program will also include Christmas songs, spirituals, and songs from around the world.

The evening will open with the Healdsburg Jazz Youth Ensemble, then the Marcus Shelby Orchestra will perform Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s Harlem Nutcracker Suite, and the evening will conclude with Holiday and Christmas songs, spirituals and songs from around the world by the Marcus Shelby Orchestra featuring vocalist Tiffany Austin and poet Endit Pickett.

Orchestra members include Phil Vieux (alto saxophone), Michael Booker (alto saxophone), Patrick Wolff (tenor saxophone/clarinet), Danny Brown (tenor saxophone), Melecio Magdaluyo (baritone saxophone), Danny Lubin-Laden (trombone), Riley Baker (trombone), Rich Lee (bass trombone),  Erik Andrews (trumpet), Mike Olmos (trumpet), Chris Clark (trumpet), Richard Benitez (trumpet), Greg Jacobs (piano), Marcus Shelby (bass), Jemal Ramirez (drums), and Tiffany Austin (vocals). Also, Enid Pickett (poet) and Andi Wong (slideshow).

There will also be a toy drive, poetry, storytelling, and other holiday celebrations to close out the year.