The Midtown Men, reuniting stars from the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys, will ring in the Christmas season this year with their “Holiday Hits” show. This evening of songs and stories will feature iconic Yuletide classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Let It Snow,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” as well as their signature renditions of the greatest rock and roll hits of the 1960s. The popular vocal group will treat their audiences to the songs of The Beatles, The Temptations, The Four Seasons, and more! Additionally, The Midtown Men will perform their holiday single, “All Alone on Christmas,” which they recorded with Stevie Van Zandt and members of Bruce Springsteen’s The E Street Band. Come celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year” with these seasoned Broadway veterans!
Category: Special Event
The Manhattan Transfer 50th Anniversary & Final World Tour
Special Guest: The Diva Jazz Orchestra
The Manhattan Transfer has achieved an incomparable career of pop and jazz hits, a legacy that defines the group as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The legendary quartet has won 10 Grammy Awards out of 20 nominations and has been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Their dynamic performances and sense of style have led them to become one of the most iconic music groups in the world. With their enduring creativity, energy, and joy in their music, the group has joined the pantheon of the entertainment industry. Recognized for their unique sound, The Manhattan Transfer has also recorded with an impressive array of artists, including Tony Bennett, Bette Midler, Smokey Robinson, Laura Nyro, Phil Collins, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, and Frankie Valli.
The group has released 19 singles and 29 albums over their incredible career and their music has been widely featured in major films and television shows. Their 50th anniversary celebration will see the release of FIFTY, the new album, and a 5-disc historic CD boxed set.
With sold-out world tours and record sales in the millions, The Manhattan Transfer continues to bring unique and extraordinary melodic and jazz-infused vocals to new and established audiences, spanning generations.
The Klezmatics | Happy Joyous Hanukkah
“The Klezmatics aren’t just the best band in the klezmer vanguard; on a good night, they can rank among the greatest bands on the planet.”—Time Out New York
Celebrate the Festival of Light with the Grammy-winning Klezmatics. Since their emergence more than 30 years ago, The Klezmatics have transcended genres, blending klezmer with aching shtetl melodies, raucous Latin stomps, wild jazz riffs, and provocative Arabic, African, American, and Balkan rhythms. This holiday performance will include seasonal music from their acclaimed album Happy Joyous Hanukkah that set lyrics by the late Woody Guthrie to their delightful original compositions.
Nochebuena | A Christmas Spectacular
Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Garibaldi
“Lively holiday spectacular… “—Los Angeles Times
Celebrate the holiday traditions of Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) in San Diego. Artistic directors Kareli Montoya (Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles) and Jaime Cuéllar have created a holiday experience celebrating the traditions and customs of Christmas in Mexico with an all-star cast of musicians and dancers. In Mexico, Christmas is a whole season of holiday celebrations that represent a blend of Indigenous cultures, Spanish heritage, and diverse cultural influences. Spirited folk tales are shared through a stunning display of vibrant colors and dance as Mariachi music fills the air.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
6:00 pm: Doors Open. Food and drink will be available for purchase at the concourse
7:00 pm: DJ Shammy Dee ’01
8:00 pm: George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic
Recording both as Parliament and Funkadelic, George Clinton revolutionized R&B during the ’70s, twisting soul music into funk by adding influences from several late-’60s acid heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, and Sly Stone. The Parliament/Funkadelic machine ruled black music during the ’70s, capturing over 40 R&B hit singles (including three number ones) and recording three platinum albums.
Inspired by Motown‘s assembly line of sound, George Clinton gradually put together a collective of over 50 musicians and recorded the ensemble during the ’70s both as Parliament and Funkadelic. While Funkadelic pursued band-format psychedelic rock, Parliament engaged in a funk free-for-all, blending influences from the godfathers (James Brown and Sly Stone) with freaky costumes and themes inspired by ’60s acid culture and science fiction. From its 1970 inception until Clinton’s dissolving of Parliament in 1980, Clinton hit the R&B Top Ten several times but truly excelled in two other areas: large-selling, effective album statements and the most dazzling, extravagant live show in the business. In an era when Philly soul continued the slick sounds of establishment-approved R&B, Parliament / Funkadelic scared off more white listeners than it courted. (Ironically, today Clinton’s audiences are a cross-cultural mix of music lovers from 8 to 80.)
Clinton has received a Grammy, a Dove (gospel) , and an MTV music video awards, and has been recognized by BMI, the NAACP Image Awards, and Motown Alumni Association for lifetime achievement. Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
Em Beihold ’20 (UC San Diego Alumna)
Opening by Ashley Mehta
Em Beihold’s music converses and connects much like your closest friend would. She isn’t afraid to be blunt, disclose her insecurities, or laugh unexpectedly, and exudes nothing but love. It’s why she’s emerged as an unmistakable and inimitable platinum-certified pop songstress with north of 4 billion streams and widespread critical acclaim. She’s the girl on the red carpet with the $10 coat (who will proudly tell anyone who asks!) and who sends her hair stylist a picture of Jessica Rabbit as inspo for a late-night TV appearance.
The Los Angeles native climbed into the pop culture conversation with the 2022 platinum smash “Numb Little Bug,” generating over 2 billion global streams in addition to cracking the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart, #5 at Pop radio and holding the #1 spot at Hot AC for three weeks. She only accelerated her rise with the Egg In The Backseat EP, making her late-night television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
She incited the applause of The New York Times, Stereogum, Teen Vogue, V Magazine, and Variety who hailed, “Beihold is very much part of the new guard.” She lent her voice to a duet version of Stephen Sanchez’s “Until I Found You,” which has eclipsed 1 billion streams. Moreover, they lit up The Late Late Show with James Corden together with their energetic and honest performance. She opens up even more on a series of 2023 singles for Moon Projects/Republic Records including her upcoming single “Pedestal,” Oct 12th, which she’s been performing live the past year and has quickly become a fan favorite begging for a proper release.
About Ashley Mehta
Ashley Mehta is a rising Pop/R&B Artist. With her own stylistic sound, Ashley creates music that captures the energy of growing up in the Bay Area. Having roots from both Filipino and Indian backgrounds, Ashley takes pride in representing her cultures. Singing since such a young age, Ashley’s upbringing was surrounded by music. She grew up singing in Church choir and started writing songs the moment she picked up her guitar in highschool. She began posting videos on Youtube of covers and mashups she would create. Ashley began to focus on writing original music and since then she has had a #1 song on 99.7NOW in the Bay Area, opened up her first tour on the West and East Coast, and completed her first very own Headline Tour for her “Trust” EP. Ashley has grown her Tik Tok with original music, mashups and covers using her favorite line…”What If This Song…”. Ashley feels nothing but gratitude and excitement for everything to come as she continues to express herself through her music.
ABSENCE: Terence Blanchard featuring the E-Collective & Turtle Island Quartet
“a brass-wielding force of nature”—Los Angeles Times
Celebrated jazz trumpeter and film composer Terence Blanchard pays homage to legendary saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, the inspiration that has influenced Blanchard’s music and storytelling. Featuring the acclaimed trumpeter with The E-Collective and the Turtle Island Quartet, they will present pieces written by Shorter as well as original compositions by Blanchard and members of his band—resulting in “a lush and dramatic soundscape that calls to mind Blanchard’s career as a successful film composer” (New Yorker).
“I’m proud to have a chance to visit some of the music that has shaped my musical identity,” says Blanchard. “Pairing Wayne Shorter’s music with original works from The E-Collective along with the sonic colors of The Turtle Island Quartet has been an amazing experience. Wayne has said before ‘Jazz means I Dare You,’ so why not dare to be creative and pay homage at the same time,” said Blanchard.
Leilehua Lanzilotti and Argus Quartet
Praised for playing with “supreme melodic control and total authority” and “decided dramatic impact” (Calgary Herald), the Argus Quartet has quickly emerged as one of today’s most dynamic and versatile ensembles, winning First Prize at both the 2017 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition and the 2017 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition. They will perform an evening of new music by contemporary indigenous artists including Ahupua’a by 2022 Pulitzer finalist Leilehua Lanzilotti.
Program: Leilehua Lanzilotti: ko’u inoa, ahupua’ a for string quartet (newly commissioned work), and beyond the accident of time for five voices/percussion; inti figgis-vizueta: mayu: the great river for string quartet and talamh (land) for string quartet
Takae Ohnishi: Spring Night with Vivaldi and Bach
Travel back in time with harpsichordist and UC San Diego lecturer Takae Ohnishi as she teams up with friends from the San Diego Symphony to revel in the joys of a springtime evening in the Baroque era. It is certain to be a lighthearted evening filled with virtuosic performances of some of the great works written for the harpsichord.
Featuring: Zou Yu and Nihira Awata, violins; Lily Josefsberg, flute, Chia-Ling Chien, cello, PJ Cinque, double bass
Program:
Duphly: Chaconne; Rameau: Clavecin Concert No.5; J.S.Bach: Sonata for harpsichord and cello No.3 BWV1029 and Brandenburg Concerto No.5 BWV1050; Vivaldi: Trio Sonata “La Follia” RV63
An Evening with David Sedaris
Master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition, best-selling author David Sedaris returns once again with his acerbic humor, social commentary, and outlandish stories. Slashing through cultural euphemisms and political correctness, he will delight the audience with twists of humor and intelligence as he shares both published stories and works-in-progress.
Come early or stick around post-performance for Sedaris’s legendary book-signing sessions.