This year’s evening show will be the all new, “Swing Into The Holidays,” produced by acclaimed jazz percussionist, Artie Irwin. Taking the stage at the Spatz Theatre is an exciting lineup of seasonal music from some the area’s most popular jazz bands, and ensembles, including The Tuesday Night Band, Kitty & the Katz, George Hebert & Standard Time, and The Back Alley Big Band, ft. Doris Mason. Irwin brings decades of experience as a jazz drummer as well as many years producing shows for television and radio, dance bands, and a wide variety of musical productions to the Spatz Theatre stage.

For a quarter of a century, The Tuesday Night Band has been a mainstay of the Halifax Jazz scene, proving over and over again that big band music is alive and thriving. A mix of professionals and talented amateurs who rehearse every Tuesday night, year round, Bob Bauer will conduct the band in a set of music sure to put everyone in a holiday spirit.

Kitty and the Katz were nominated for a Music Nova Scotia Award for their signature brand of swingy, bluesy jazz. They are well-known to Halifax audiences, having performed at the Halifax Jazz Festival, recorded a live album at the Music Room, and won Bronze in The Coast's Jazz Group" category.

Georges Hebert has been entertaining audiences since the 1960s. He toured with Anne Murray for more than 30 years, playing legendary music halls throughout the world including Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall in New York, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Royal Albert Hall, The London Palladium, and Victoria Palace in London, as well as Centennial Hall in Monte Carlo. Georges will be leading the Standard Time trio.

For swing music that gets the audience on its feet, no one beats Halifax’s own Back Alley Big Band. The 19-piece Back Alley Big Band will be joined by Doris Mason. Doris is a well-known performer on the East Coast music scene, and has successfully juggled a busy solo career, work as Musical Director for the hit touring show “DRUM!,” and has starred in Denny Doherty’s “Dream a Little Dream”- the nearly true story of the Mamas and Papas.

This show is part of the Halifax Jazz Festival's 15th annual fundraiser for music education – thank you for your support.