A Zoom college class presentation by Galen Demus-Jazz Education Coordinator for the Billy Strayhorn Foundation, talking about the life and musical legacy of Billy Strayhorn. The class, taught by Associate Professor of Music Industry Studies Andrew Surmani at the University of California Northridge, looks at the history of pop music in America.

Iowa State’s department of music and theatre is hosting a jazz performance Wednesday night in Simon Estes Music Hall. The event is named “Jazz Night: The Nutcracker Suite." The concert will be a direct transcription of “The Nutcracker Suite,” a famous album made by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. 

The concert will be performed by the Jazz ONE Ensemble, one of the four jazz bands operated by the music department. The concert will begin at 7:30pm the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall inside of the Simon Estes Music Hall. The concert aims to recreate the of the original album released by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn in 1960. Performers will play the same songs in the exact spirit and tone as the original release.

Admission for the event is $5, and tickets will be available both at the door of the concert and in 149 Simon Estes Music Hall prior to the event. Seating is limited, so arriving early or purchasing tickets ahead of time is recommended.

SHERMAN — The Sherman Chamber Ensemble will host its annual “Jazzing It Up” concert, this year returning to live in-person performances in compliance with Covid guidelines.

Pianist Ted Rosenthal and alto saxophonist Eddie Barbash join a most talented group of accomplished New York musicians including Thomson Kneeland on double bass, Chris Parker on drums, Susan Rotholz on flute and Eliot Bailen on cello in a program where the classics meet jazz.

The concerts will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 27 at Temple Sholom, 122 Kent Road (Rt. 7), New Milford; Saturday, November 27 at 8 p.m. at Salem Covenant Church, 96 Baldwin Hill Road in Washington, CT; and on Sunday, December 28 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, 1 North Main Street, Kent, CT.

Mr. Bailen, artistic director of the ensemble, said, “The program pays tribute to Billy Strayhorn – American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader Duke Ellington. 

In fact, some say it was difficult to discern where one’s style ended and the other’s began as the two together brought much joy to the jazz world.”

Billy Strayhorn composed more than 150 pieces of music, including “Chelsea Bridge,” “Day Dream,” “Johnny Come Lately,” “Rain Check,” and Ellington’s theme song, “Take the A Train.” 

Mr. Bailen said that special arrangements are being created for the Ensemble’s program to include flute and cello.

What is your “Something to Live For,” as penned by Billy Strayhorn? What makes you “Put On A Happy Face,” as Gene Kelly once crooned? For us at Kelly Strayhorn Theater, the opportunity to give artists and creators a platform to express themselves and be their full selves is something we work for every day. 

Join us for Suite Life, our annual benefit concert that honors our namesakes, 20th century entertainment and Pittsburgh legends Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, while also looking forward to the future of the theater.

You can buy tickets at kelly-strayhorn.org

The “Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite” will bring a unique version of the iconic ballet music of “The Nutcracker” to downtown Scranton on one of the biggest holiday shopping days of the year, and it’s all for a good cause. This special concert and toy drive will benefit the Scranton Jazz Festival and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

Under the direction of Marko Marcinko, the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band will perform the “Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s work reimagined by legendary jazz masters Shorty Rogers, Billy Strayhorn, and Duke Ellington – on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. at The Ritz Theater (222 Wyoming Ave., Scranton). The event is made possible through a partnership between Scranton Tomorrow, the Scranton Jazz Festival, and Blu Elefante Events.

Tickets, which are $20 per person, are on sale now via ShowTix4U, and guests are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit children in need in the greater Scranton area. Tickets are also available at the box office in the lobby one hour before curtain. The Black Box Cafe in the Ritz building will open at 6 p.m. to serve food and concessions.

For more information, visit ritzpac.com, call 570-252-4156, or email ritzpac.scranton@gmail.com.

SHERMAN — The Sherman Chamber Ensemble will host its annual “Jazzing It Up” concert, this year returning to live in-person performances in compliance with Covid guidelines.

Pianist Ted Rosenthal and alto saxophonist Eddie Barbash join a most talented group of accomplished New York musicians including Thomson Kneeland on double bass, Chris Parker on drums, Susan Rotholz on flute and Eliot Bailen on cello in a program where the classics meet jazz.

The concerts will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 27 at Temple Sholom, 122 Kent Road (Rt. 7), New Milford; Saturday, November 27 at 8 p.m. at Salem Covenant Church, 96 Baldwin Hill Road in Washington, CT; and on Sunday, December 28 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, 1 North Main Street, Kent, CT.

Mr. Bailen, artistic director of the ensemble, said, “The program pays tribute to Billy Strayhorn – American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader Duke Ellington. 

In fact, some say it was difficult to discern where one’s style ended and the other’s began as the two together brought much joy to the jazz world.”

Billy Strayhorn composed more than 150 pieces of music, including “Chelsea Bridge,” “Day Dream,” “Johnny Come Lately,” “Rain Check,” and Ellington’s theme song, “Take the A Train.” 

Mr. Bailen said that special arrangements are being created for the Ensemble’s program to include flute and cello.

SHERMAN — The Sherman Chamber Ensemble will host its annual “Jazzing It Up” concert, this year returning to live in-person performances in compliance with Covid guidelines.

Pianist Ted Rosenthal and alto saxophonist Eddie Barbash join a most talented group of accomplished New York musicians including Thomson Kneeland on double bass, Chris Parker on drums, Susan Rotholz on flute and Eliot Bailen on cello in a program where the classics meet jazz.

The concerts will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, November 27 at Temple Sholom, 122 Kent Road (Rt. 7), New Milford; Saturday, November 27 at 8 p.m. at Salem Covenant Church, 96 Baldwin Hill Road in Washington, CT; and on Sunday, December 28 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, 1 North Main Street, Kent, CT.

Mr. Bailen, artistic director of the ensemble, said, “The program pays tribute to Billy Strayhorn – American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader Duke Ellington. 

In fact, some say it was difficult to discern where one’s style ended and the other’s began as the two together brought much joy to the jazz world.”

Billy Strayhorn composed more than 150 pieces of music, including “Chelsea Bridge,” “Day Dream,” “Johnny Come Lately,” “Rain Check,” and Ellington’s theme song, “Take the A Train.” 

Mr. Bailen said that special arrangements are being created for the Ensemble’s program to include flute and cello.

Bassist and bandleader Doug Elmore leads a lineup of Louisville jazz luminaries in a tribute to master composer/arranger Billy Strayhorn. The tribute will include many of Strayhorn’s classic collaborations with Duke Ellington including “Cotton-tail,” “Take the ‘A’ Train, “Lush Life’” “U.M.M.G,” and more. The personnel includes Gabe Evens (piano) and Michael Hyman (drums) from the University of Louisville Jazz Studies Department and David Clark (alto saxophone) from Bellarmine University.

The Billy Strayhorn Project is one of those shows that’s part theater, part concert, but whatever box you put it in, promises to be entertaining for Big Band fans. Duke Ellington, who collaborated with composer, pianist, and arranger William “Thomas” Billy Strayhorn for three decades, described him as “my right arm, my left arm … my brain waves in his head and his in mine.” In Philly, vocalist Tyrone Brown, keyboard artist Dave Posmontier, bass player David Brodie and drummer Doug Hirlinger will bring Strayhorn’s legend to life playing songs such as “Take the A Train” and “Lush Life.” The show here coincides with similar annual birthday tributes across the country and around the world listed on billystrayhorn.com.

Nov. 29, 7 and 8:30 p.m. at Our House Culture Center, 6380 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Tickets at the door or via Eventbrite.

The Billy Strayhorn Project is one of those shows that’s part theater, part concert, but whatever box you put it in, promises to be entertaining for Big Band fans. Duke Ellington, who collaborated with composer, pianist, and arranger William “Thomas” Billy Strayhorn for three decades, described him as “my right arm, my left arm … my brain waves in his head and his in mine.” In Philly, vocalist Tyrone Brown, keyboard artist Dave Posmontier, bass player David Brodie and drummer Doug Hirlinger will bring Strayhorn’s legend to life playing songs such as “Take the A Train” and “Lush Life.” The show here coincides with similar annual birthday tributes across the country and around the world listed on billystrayhorn.com.

Nov. 29, 7 and 8:30 p.m. at Our House Culture Center, 6380 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Tickets at the door or via Eventbrite.