Kick off the holiday season the right way with a mix of good music and goodwill at “A Jazz Christmas Celebration Concert,” on Dec. 8.
This concert by America’s Hometown Jazz Combo starts at 3 p.m. at Hazelwood Christian Church, 1400 W. University Ave., Muncie.
The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets or registration required. Organizers will collect a goodwill donation with all proceeds benefiting the Soup Kitchen of Muncie.
Saxophonist Dr. George Wolfe said the concert will be interactive in that his combo will play traditional versions of Christmas carols and ask the audience to sing along. Then, his musicians will play a jazz arrangement of the same carol.
“This is one way we can appreciate jazz and celebrate the Christmas season,” he said. “It gives me the opportunity to explain jazz, which I feel is important because jazz is so fundamental to the history of American society.”
The audience can expect classics such as “Deck the Halls,” “Oh Christmas Tree,” “Jingle Bells,” “I Wonder as I Wander,” and more. Dr. Wolfe’s combo will also play a Hanukkah song in Klezmer style.
The concert is sponsored by America’s Hometown Band, which is covering all expenses so all proceeds from the donations made at the concert will go to the Soup Kitchen of Muncie.
“I like to combine my musical performances with social activism. More and more people are in need of assistance now days,” Dr. Wolfe said. “I’m hoping the concert will capture the true meaning of the Christmas season and that people will leave with a reminder that we have to help care for those who are less fortunate.”
Dr. Wolfe said the concert is family friendly and he expects it to last about an hour and 10 minutes. It will be followed by a reception with cookies, punch, hot chocolate, and coffee.