December 12th, 2021- the final Jazz Society event of the year, and our annual Holiday Party and Jam! The afternoon opened with the Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band, who serenaded us with four standards, including “My Favorite Things” and “Satin Doll”. The young band was awarded a one thousand dollar check as part of the Jazz Society Scholarship program- ensuring that jazz continues to live and thrive for generations to come. Next, we were treated to a set of music by our incredible house band: Debbie Denke on piano, Kim Collins on bass, and Craig Thatcher on drums. The group performed a mix of standards, such as “Lullaby of the Leaves” with Christmas tunes like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and hits from Vince Guaraldi’s score for “Peanuts”. One highlight was hearing Kim singing Johnny Mercer’s “Dearly Beloved” in up tempo fashion, featuring great solos from the band and Kim’s masterful scatting. During the jam portion, a mix of amateur and professional singers and instrumentalists graced the stage. Dennis Berger added his splendid saxophone stylings to many of the songs. Pianist Dick Dunlap sweetly serenaded us during the raffle. Donna Greene and Greg “Snoots” Loeb performed a soulful Christmas Blues, giving the audience an incredible preview of what is to come when they headline our April event in 2022. In a spontaneous moment, Eje Lynn-Jacobs performed a beautiful rendition of “Nature Boy” with the band. The unspoken understanding between each of the musicians was lovely and emotional. In the penultimate number, pianist Bevan Manson joined Kim and Craig for an energetic “Caravan”, in which the band could really stretch out. While the crowd this day was small, it was enthusiastic, and by this point in the afternoon, many were up and dancing! Debbie came back in for the final number, another Vince Guaraldi classic, to round out the event. It was a great send off for this season, leaving us with bright hope for jazz in the new year! – Melody Collins
Enjoy Photos by Rob Hoffman!
December 2021 Holiday Party
