New Arts Jazztet “Cool & Yule” Concert

418 South Illinois Avenue,Carbondale IL 62901

05 December, 2021

Description

The New Arts Jazztet will present “The New Arts Jazztet Does Cool & Yule” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, on the Balcony Stage. The show will be the NAJ’s fourth performance in the renovated Balcony at The Varsity Center, and will feature jazz vocal sensation, Eden Atwood. Members of the group say they are eager to play again in the historic venue’s Balcony space, which many consider to be the premier listening room in Southern Illinois. Masks will be required for entry to the venue. “The New Arts Jazztet Does Cool & Yule” program will feature over a dozen selections, with about half being seasonal—both time-honored traditional songs as well as familiar popular tunes—all in the inimitable NAJ style. There will also be a few less well known numbers, and an original, “Visions of Christmas,” by Phil Brown. And there could be a surprise or two. Eden will lend her considerable vocal talents to many of the selections. As always, concertgoers can expect a dynamic performance encompassing a wide variety of jazz styles. The New Arts Jazztet was formed in 1984 among several Southern Illinois University School of Music faculty, and has been in residence at the school ever since. Current NAJ members are Dick Kelley, reeds; Bob Allison, trumpet; Isaac Lausell, guitar; Phil Brown, bass; and Jimmy Beers, drums. Long regarded as Southern Illinois' foremost jazz group, the NAJ performs two formal concerts each year: a spring concert that traditionally features new original compositions, and a fall concert that comprises transcriptions or new arrangements of jazz standards. Memphis-born, Montana-raised Eden Atwood began singing on stages at the age of 3 and has been singing ever since. As a young professional, she relocated to Chicago and was soon headlining the city’s legendary Gold Star Sardine Bar, a gig she had for eight years. In 1993, Atwood was signed by Concord Records, becoming the youngest artist on its roster. Her four recordings on that jazz label all enjoyed critical praise. JazzTimes called Atwood “one of the most under-sung heroes of modern jazz singing.” She has performed all over the world, and has been featured on NPR's Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland. She has made eight other recordings since her debut, and continues to perform as time and opportunity allow. The New Arts Jazztet has recorded on three CDs, all by NAJ bassist Phil Brown. The most recent, Arkadia, released in October 2014, climbed onto the national Top 50 Jazz Chart for radio airplay in early 2015. The Christmas show begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5. Tickets are $10 and are available in advance here at Eventbrite. They also will be available at the door on the day of the show when doors and the Varsity Bar opens at 2:30. The bar features beer, wine and select cocktails, as well as other beverages and snacks. The Varsity is downtown Carbondale at 418 S. Illinois Ave. For more information about this and other events, go to www.facebook.com/varsitycenter or visit www.thevarsitycenter.org. A historic venue for performing and visual arts and community events in downtown Carbondale, Illinois.