Anne Phillips - Singer, Composer and Producer

Bending Towards the Light: A Jazz Nativity

Jazz Nativity 2023 Performances

December 18
8pm
New York, NY
St. Paul & St. Andrews UMC
W. 86th St. and West End Ave.

The Three Kings
Chris Brubeck / Maurice Chestnut / Bobby Sanabria

Composer, Anne Phillips
Director, Beth Ann Kennedy

Tickets and more info for LIVE and STREAMING at jazznativity.org

Three Ways to View

    1. LIVE: Come to the live show on Monday Dec.18  at 8 PM in NYC!
    2. LIVE-STREAM: For the first time ever, we are offering tickets to view the live show virtually, at home.
    3. ON-DEMAND: Watch the Historic Jazz Nativity Show on-demand, all season long, in the comfort of your home! This historic show is the full show, produced during the pandemic from our years of precious videos, featuring many jazz greats and host Charles Kuralt. Available from November 23, 2023 until January 7, 2024.

 

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!

44_jn_11skatoff_24_copyPeople 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

Bending Towards the Light - 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

Lionel Hampton KING
Tito Puente KING
Dave Brubeck SPECIAL GUEST
Clark Terry KING
Charles Kuralt HOST
New York Voices SINGERS
Jon Faddis KING
Jimmy Slyde KING
Al Grey KING
Paquito D’Rivera KING
Jackie Cain & Roy Kral ANGELS
Slide Hampton KING
Savion Glover SPECIAL GUEST
Hank Jones SPECIAL GUEST
Frank Wess SPECIAL GUEST
Jimmy Heath SPECIAL GUEST
Candido BAND
Arturo O’Farrill SPECIAL GUEST
Steve Turre KING
Terell Stafford SPECIAL GUEST
Ingrid Jensen QUING
Dave Valentin KING
Byron Stripling KING
Jerry Dodgion BAND
Benny Powell KING
Gene Bertoncini BAND
Benny Wallace SPECIAL GUEST
Ursula Dudziak SPECIAL GUEST
Toots Thielemans SPECIAL GUEST
Bill Charlap BAND
Adam Makowicz SPECIAL GUEST
Milt Grayson SHEPHARD
Sweets Edison SPECIAL GUEST
Cookie Cook KING
Harold Nicholas KING
Lew Soloff KING & BAND
Ron Carter BAND
Helen Merrill MARY
Tommy Flanagan BAND
Marvin Stamm BAND
Scott Robinson BAND
Anton Denner BAND
Lewis Nash BAND
Marcus Printup BAND
Ted Nash BAND
Terrence McNight HOST
Sheila Anderson HOST
Houston Person KING
Stanley Turrentine KING
Phil Woods KING & SHEPHERD
Chris Brubeck SPECIAL GUEST
Jon Gordon BAND
George Mraz BAND
Jon Hendricks KING & SPECIAL GUEST
Charlie Caranicus BAND
Brenda Feliciano ANGEL
Doc Cheatham KING
Honi Coles KING
Karrin Allyson MARY
Gail Wynters MARY
Warren Vache SPECIAL GUEST
Wycliffe Gordon KING
Royal Bopsters VOCAL GROUP
Amy London MARY
Bobby Sanabria SPECIAL GUEST
Maurice Chestnut KING
Max Pollak KING
Tim Horner BAND
Dean Johnson BAND
Art Baron KING & BAND
Charles Osgood HOST
Dr. Billy Taylor HOST
Michael Mossman BAND
Chembo Carniel BAND
Enrique Sanchez SPECIAL GUEST
Ray Vega KING
David de Jesus SPECIAL GUEST
Claudia Acunia MARY
Bob Kindred BAND
Mel Lewis BAND
Will Anderson SHEPHERD
Eddie Montiero SPECIAL GUEST
The Foreman Twins SPECIAL GUESTS
Christine Jensen SPECIAL GUEST
Peter Anderson SPECIAL GUEST
Bobby Sanabria SPECIAL GUEST
Dr. Billy Taylor HOST & SPECIAL GUEST
Stephanie McGuire SINGER
Dee Daniels MARY
Hilary Kole MARY
Kirk Nurock SPECIAL GUEST
Alan Harris SINGER
Leonarda Priore SINGER

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