Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity

New York | Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew
Monday December 16th | 8:00 PM
West End Ave & 86th St

Greensboro, NC | Rohbeth Church
Friday, December 13 | 6:00 PM
4475 Rohbeth Church Road

Tucson, AZ | New Spirit Lutheran Church
Sunday, December 22 | 5:00 PM
Monday, December 23 | 7:00 PM
8701 E Old Spanish Trail

Chicago | St Cletus Parish Center
Sunday, December 15 | 4:00 PM
700 W 55th St., LaGrange, Illinois.

Tickets

The Jazz Nativity is the Christmas Story told through the medium of jazz, featuring jazz greats Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton and Tito Puente.

Composed, arranged and produced by Anne Phillips, Bending Towards the Light .. A Jazz Nativity, staged and directed by Beth Ann Kennedy, is the traditional Christmas story told through the medium of jazz.Through the years many great jazz artists, including Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton snd Tito Puente, have been a part of it playing the roles of the kings, shepherds and angels. Charles Kuralt was our host. It is both moving and joyful and has become an annual family event.

Performed in full costume, the Jazz Nativity is a wonderful combination of theater, jazz and opera.

Last winter, we recorded interviews with many of the stars from over the years. All conversations with the artists are available free on our Vimeo page!

Our CD is now on Amazon! Purchase your copy here.

To help keep the Jazz Nativity going please Donate
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Never has there been such a combination of jazz and theater!

People of all faiths, for jazz fans and those new to it, young and old, return year after year.  The joy, love and camaraderie inherent in the show radiates throughout the audience.

The show was written and arranged by singer-songwriter Anne Phillips at the suggestion of the late John Garcia Gensel, “The Jazz Pastor” of St. Peter’s Church.  The Jazz Nativity was premiered in 1985.

The original music written by Ms. Phillips, Bob Kindred and Dave and Iola Brubeck is combined with well-known carols.  The soundtrack recording features the late CBS journalist Charles Kuralt as host and jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck and Tito Puente.

The show plays annually in New York and cities across the country.

“In Bethlehem in the grotto where Christ was born, a light shines into the darkness.  The light is meant to serve, as light serves for so many religions and philosophies, as a symbol of truth and love and hope. Hope, that even in a dark season, we may begin to see the world BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT.”
– Charles Kuralt from The Jazz Nativity

“Brilliant, infectious, the music roars … a spell-binding production!”
– New York Amsterdam News

“None of the classics is half so giddy, nor so utterly entertaining as “The Jazz Nativity.”
– Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

“By the end of “The Jazz Nativity” you know you’ve been through something wonderful.”
– Dr. Billy Taylor, CBS Sunday Morning

“It swings so hard you dance in your seat …”
– US 1

(from left to right: King Clark Terry presents the gift of his talent to & Mary, Gail Wynters; Host, Charles Kuralt; Kings Lionel Hampton & Tito Puente in the Finale)

Memorable Moments

CLARK TERRY sings “Mumbles” to Mary

Clark had been a King in the show from the very first year, 1986. But he surprised us in 1988! The Three Kings enter from the rear of the church, they each then present the gift of their talent. We expected again to hear a great trumpet solo. But no, he began to sing the great Clark Terry “Mumbles” … in Hebrew! At least that’s what it sounded like! Here it is. Its a classic moment!

Watch Video

A PHIL WOODS STORY

The third year of the show Phil Woods was a King. Then we re-wrote The First Noel with real high energy arrangement featuring a saxophone playing shepherd. Who else but Phil? When we called him to tell him he would no longer be a King, but a shepherd his retort was “What next? A camel?”

Watch Video

The Jazz Nativity Gallery

Performers Through the Years

Past Performances

GREENSBORO NC
every year for 25 years
ALTON, IL
CHICAGO, IL
Orchestra Hall
St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL
NEW YORK, NY
St. Peters Church
St. Bartholomews Church
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Symphony Space – Lincoln Center
Lambs Club Theater
Birdland
B.B. Kings
Christ & St. Stephen’s Church
NYACK, NY
HARRISBURG. PA
COLORADO SPRINGS
Lutheran Church
Colorado Springs Conservatory
UTICA, NY
Mt. Carmel Church

“If you ever have the chance to present “Bending Towards the Light” in your community, your audience will be enthralled.” Andrew Tecson, Chicago, IL

What’s New with Anne

I enjoyed speaking with singer, composer and producer Anne Phillips, and 9-time Grammy nominated and host of the Latin Jazz Cruise, Bobby Sanabria, about the upcoming beautiful and uplifting play, “Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity,” which will be performed on December 18 at St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church in NYC. Along with Maurice Chestnut and Christopher Brubeck, Bobby Sanabria will be one of the Three Kings. Premiered in 1985 at St. Peter’s Church, A Jazz Nativity is the traditional Christmas story told through the medium of jazz that has included many great jazz artists, including Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck, Lionel Hampton and Tito Puente, who have been a part of it playing the roles of the kings, shepherds and angels.

Listen to our conversation

Listen to Anne's interview with Follow Your Dreams Podcast!

Her classic album on Roulette  now on CD  and still selling

“Exquisite, tender, richly arranged ...a class collection that no serious music lover should be without”  -- Rex Reed

Listen on Spotify, YouTube and buy at Amazon

 

"Completely refreshed carols  … thoroughly unorthodox but of the highest artistic order" -- Cashbox

“Very tasty arranging and composing"  -- Gene Purling, The Hi-Los

Buy at Amazon

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“Such a worthy bookend for those of us who still cherish 'Born to Be Blue'" –Rex Reed

“It was fascinating to hear Anne Phillips apply her freer, more sophisticated, jazzier style to standards, and her own songs. And her freer, sophisticated, jazzier style is in full display on this outstanding recording.”
–Ron Weinstock, Jazz & Blues Report

“Phillips adds thoughtful anecdotes that help the audience – and now listeners – understand her history in a beautiful, personal way. Her original gems feel comfortable alongside classics by Mel Torme and The Gershwins. They are even more emotionally gripping.” –Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe

"Where has this captivating performer been all our lives?"–Hollywood Variety/Reuters

 

SURVIVOR OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS

Anne tells her story in the Fall 2017 issue of the International Alliance of Women in Music Journal.
Read it Here!

Anne's Music