2023-10-11 15:42:49
Bob Thompson’s annual holiday jazz celebration is back! The event is at the West Virginia Culture Center Theater Thursday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 15.
Special Guests Vocalist Maria Muldaur and Trumpeter James Moore Join Annual Holiday Celebration
Thursday, Dec. 14 and Friday, Dec. 15, 2023
CHARLESTON, WV: Bob Thompson’s annual holiday jazz celebration is back! For over thirty years, Joy to the World has been delighting audiences with old and new holiday favorites. The event is at the West Virginia Culture Center Theater Thursday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 15. Joy to the World is presented by West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from the West Virginia Lottery. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m.
All seats are general admission and are available online at Eventbrite or at https://mountainstage.org/.
“I’m looking forward to our 31st edition of Joy to the World,” shares Bob Thompson. “And I’m really looking forward to working with Maria Muldaur. Most of us know her from her classic hit, ‘Midnight at the Oasis,’ but she brings with her a history of being immersed in many genres of American roots music – Blues, early jazz, gospel, folk and New Orleans music are all part of her rich heritage. When you add trumpeter James Moore to our band, and we’ll have all the proper ingredients for a great Holiday party!”
Early-bird tickets are $25 when purchased before 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Tickets will be $30 from Nov. 25 until the day of show. Joining Thompson on stage is his long-time band: Timothy Courts on drums, Ryan Kennedy on guitars, John Inghram on bass, and special guest vocalist Maria Muldaur and Special Guest James Moore on trumpet.
Maria Muldaur is best known worldwide for her 1974 mega-hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” which received several Grammy nominations. Her 55-plus year career might best be described as a long and adventurous odyssey through the various forms of American Roots Music. Maria has toured extensively worldwide and has recorded 41 solo albums covering all kinds of American Roots Music, including Gospel, R&B, Jazz and Big Band. She has now settled comfortably into her favorite idiom, the Blues. In September 2019, the Americana Music Association awarded Maria “The Lifetime Achievement Americana Trailblazer Award” for her lifelong work of covering the depth and breadth of American Roots music.
The world-renowned jazz pianist Bob Thompson is the Mountain State’s best-loved musician and ambassador of jazz. Since 1991, he has been a pianist, and regularly featured artist, on WVPB’s syndicated radio show, Mountain Stagedistributed by NPR Music. For 30 years now, he has also been co-producer and host of Joy to the Worlda holiday jazz show broadcast on public radio stations nationwide. In October 2015, Thompson was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. He makes his home in Charleston, West Virginia, and has enjoyed a long and active career as a performer, composer, arranger and educator. Learn more regarding his work at colortones.com.
Watch and listen for last season’s show coming in December on WVPB radio and television.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristi Morey, WVPB Marketing Communications
304.556.4911, kmorey@wvpublic.org
1697042051
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