Concert Features Traditional Carols, Music of the Season and Songs From Reeves' New Christmas Album

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 AT 2 PM and
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 AT 7:30 PM

December 19 Concert Sponsored by Acura

Dianne Reeves headlines a festive "Home for the Holidays" program with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by William Henry Curry, at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, December 18 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, December 19, at 7:30 p.m. Reeves, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's Creative Chair for Jazz, performs music from her new Christmas Time is Here album (Blue Note) with her band and with the Philharmonic. The concert also features Rimsky-Korsakov's Christmas Eve: Polonaise, selections from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite: Peanut Brittle Brigade (arranged by Jeff Tyzik), and Anderson's "A Christmas Festival" and "Sleigh Ride."

Reeves, described by The New York Times as "the only jazz singer with a voice big enough to rival Sarah Vaughan's," sings "Carol of the Bells," "Let it Snow," "Little Drummer Boy," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and other carols from her album. A review of the recording praised Reeves as being "able to capture a universal spirit and open it up for all to enjoy."

In March 2002, jazz vocalist and recording artist DIANNE REEVES was appointed Creative Chair for Jazz for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association - then a newly established position. In this role, Reeves oversees the scheduling of jazz programming for the Association at both the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Prior to joining the organization in this capacity, Reeves has graced the Bowl's stage on many evenings under the stars while delighting audiences with her singular vocal talents. A Blue Note/EMI recording artist since 1987, Reeves has earned five Grammy nominations. She won consecutive Best Jazz Vocalist Grammys in 2000 and 2001 for her albums In the Moment and The Calling and in 2003 for A Little Moonlight. But the greatest tribute to her artistry comes from the musicians - Clark Terry, Sergio Mendes, Harry Belafonte, and the late, great Joe Williams - who have actively championed Reeves throughout her career. In 1987, Reeves became the first vocalist signed to the newly reactivated Blue Note label, for which she has since recorded numerous albums, including those that garnered her Grammy recognition. Reeves was recently featured with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra for several Duke Ellington projects in celebration of Ellington's Centennial. A recording with Daniel Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony and a concert appearance at Carnegie Hall with Simon Rattle and the Orchestra of St. Luke's were among her many other appearances associated with the Ellington Centennial salute. In 2002, she performed at the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The 2002 season finale of HBO's Sex and the City also featured an appearance and performance by Reeves.

WILLIAM HENRY CURRY is in his seventh season as Associate Conductor of the North Carolina Symphony. In July 2002, he was also named to the post of Interim Artistic Planning Advisor. He came to the North Carolina Symphony by way of New Orleans, where he served as Resident Conductor of the New Orleans Symphony. Curry started conducting at age 14, and his first major appointment was at age 21 when he was named Assistant Conductor of the Richmond Chamber Orchestra. He went on to serve as Resident Conductor with the Baltimore Symphony for six years (1978-1983) and with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for two years (1983-1985). Curry was appointed Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony in 1983, a post he held until 1988, the same year he won the Leopold Stokowski Conducting Competition and performed in Carnegie Hall. Curry's guest-conducting appearances have included performances with the Cleveland, Houston, National, Detroit, Denver, American, and San Diego Symphonies. In November of 1997 he made his debut with the Israel Camerata Jerusalem orchestra; his other international engagements have included performances in Bangkok with the Sai Jai Thai Orchestra and in Taipei with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan. William Henry Curry is also a composer, and his works have been played by many of America's finest orchestras.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 7:30

Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

Home for the Holidays

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

WILLIAM HENRY CURRY, conductor

DIANNE REEVES, vocals

GREG HUTCHINSON, drums

REUBEN ROGERS, bass

ROMERO LUBAMBO, guitar

PETER MARTIN, piano

ANDERSON A Christmas Festival

TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker: Waltz/Finale from Act II

ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN/TYZIK Nutcracker Suite: Peanut Brittle Brigade

Carol of the Bells

This Time of the Year

Christmas Time Is Here

Christmas Waltz

Let it Snow

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Christmas Eve: Polonaise

ANDERSON/ARR. PETER MARTIN Sleigh Ride

Little Drummer Boy

I'll Be Home for Christmas

A Child Is Born

The Christmas Song

The Sunday concert is generously sponsored by Acura.

Tickets ($36 - $89) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($15), will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Recital, and Baroque Variations performances beginning at noon on the Tuesday of the second week prior to the concert. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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