Big Band Holidays II: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Wynton Marsalis

Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Blue Engine Records celebrates the most wonderful time of the year with the release of Big Band Holidays II, a sequel to a beloved and festive album released in 2015 and performed live by the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Catherine Russell appears as featured vocalist on 3 of the eleven tracks. This newest collection of holiday classics is now available for pre-order and will be available on all digital platforms on October 25, 2019, in stores as a CD on November 15, 2019, and available on 2xLP audiophile vinyl later in the holiday season.

Big Band Holidays II includes an electric, never-before-released solo piano performance of "O Tannenbaum"  by Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul sang the holiday classic in English and German, while accompanying herself on piano,at a surprise performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2015 Big Band Holidays concert.  "O Tannenbaum," exclusively on Big Band Holidays II,is one of only a handful of tracks to be released since Franklin’s passing on August 16, 2018.

Additional guests on Big Band Holidays II include some of today’s commanding new voices in jazz: Catherine Russell, Veronica Swift, Denzal Sinclaire, and Audrey Shakir.

Paul Kahn