JLCO with Wynton Marsalis | “Big Band Holidays III”

Announcing
Big Band Holidays III
Digital Album
featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
with Wynton Marsalis

Produced and arranged by Marcus Printup; Released on Dec. 15

Featuring special guest vocalists
Catherine Russell, Denzal Sinclaire, Vuyo Sotashe
and more

First four songs out on all streaming platforms today:
“Go Tell it On The Mountain,” “Christmas Time Is Here,” “Caroling, Caroling,” and “What Child Is This”

New York, NY (December 8, 2023) – In celebration of the most wonderful time of the year, Blue Engine Records—Jazz at Lincoln Center’s (JALC) in-house record label—proudly presents the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis’ new collection of holiday music: Big Band Holidays III. Produced and arranged by acclaimed JLCO member, trumpeter and composer Marcus Printup, the eight-song album features music recorded over the past decade during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s titular holiday series and spotlights an intergenerational roster of guest vocalists, including Catherine Russell, Denzal Sinclaire, Vuyo Sotashe, and more.

Released in two bundles – the first four songs out today (Dec. 8), the second, Dec. 15 – the album includes holiday classics reimagined for America’s premier big band, including “This Christmas,” “Caroling, Caroling,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Big Band Holidays III is the perfect addition to everyone’s holiday playlist and an ideal soundtrack to celebrate the season with loved ones.

Big Band Holidays III
Streaming December 8, 2023:
01. Go Tell It on the Mountain
02. Christmas Time Is Here
03. Caroling, Caroling (featuring vocalist Denzal Sinclaire)
04. What Child Is This (featuring vocalist Vuyo Sotashe)

Streaming December 15, 2023:
05. All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (featuring vocalist Denzal Sinclaire)
06. This Christmas
07. I’m Still Here This Christmas
08. No Room at the Inn (featuring vocalist Catherine Russell)

Big Band Holidays concerts have been a New York City tradition among jazz lovers and families for more than a decade. Every December, the critically acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and an all-star roster of guest vocalists explore the canon of holiday standards and perform both new and traditional arrangements of Yuletide favorites. Blue Engine Records has assembled highlights from these historical performances to make them available for digital streaming.

Producer and arranger Marcus Printup says, “The holidays are a time when all generations come together, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s annual Big Band Holidays represents that unity and community.” Reflecting on “Christmas Time Is Here,” he says, “I remember watching A Charlie Brown Christmas as a child and always loving this song. It has a somber, yet optimistic feeling which I tried to portray in this arrangement. The unison cup muted trumpet melody represents the choir singing on the original recording by Vince Guaraldi in 1965. Victor Goines takes a masterful and virtuosic solo on the clarinet, followed by a deeply soulful and introspective trombone solo by Vincent Gardner. I added an interlude (before the outgoing bridge and melody are restated) that represents optimism and hope.”

BIG BAND HOLIDAYS III TRACKLISTING:
01. Go Tell it On The Mountain
02. Christmas Time is Here
03. Caroling, Caroling (featuring vocalist Denzal Sinclaire)
04. What Child is This (featuring vocalist Vuyo Sotashe)
05. All I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth (featuring vocalist Denzal Sinclaire)
06. This Christmas
07. I’m Still Here This Christmas
08. No Room at The Inn (featuring vocalist Catherine Russell)

BIG BAND HOLIDAYS III PERSONNEL:
THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS

REEDS
Sherman Irby (alto saxophone, alto flute)
Ted Nash (alto saxophone, piccolo)
Victor Goines (tenor saxophone, clarinet)
Walter Blanding (tenor saxophone)
*Camille Thurman (tenor saxophone)
Joe Temperley (baritone saxophone)
Paul Nedzela (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet)

TRUMPETS
Ryan Kisor
Marcus Printup
Kenny Rampton
Wynton Marsalis
*Bruce Harris
*Greg Gisbert

TROMBONES
Vincent Gardner
Christopher Crenshaw
Elliot Mason
*Jacob Melsha

RHYTHM SECTION
Dan Nimmer (piano)
Carlos Henriquez (bass)
*James Chirillo (guitar)
*Ali Jackson (drums)
*Willie Jones III (drums)
*Charles Goold (drums)

FEATURED GUESTS
Catherine Russell
Denzal Sinclaire
Vuyo Sotashe

*Indicates substitute orchestra member

Leadership support for Blue Engine Records is provided in part by the Arnhold Family and Jay Pritzker Foundation.

Generous support is provided by Helen and Robert Appel, Diana and Joseph DiMenna, Leonard and Louise Riggio, and Lisa Schiff.

Jazz at Lincoln Center