Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite contains some of the most beloved and familiar melodies in the Western world. Mr Sun (Darol Anger, fiddle; Joe K. Walsh, mandolin; Grant Gordy, guitar; and Aidan O’Donnell, bass) has seized upon the inspiration of Duke Ellington’s brilliant, sly, & urbane re-interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Suite as an opportunity to salute and re-invent this wildly multi-faceted work anew through the lens of the American String Band, a musical form which contains myriad styles and is presently engaged in a marathon upheaval of innovation and expansion.
Swing Music
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Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas
12-07-2025 7:00 pm
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Classic holiday tunes come to life as Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery, Tim Davis, and the Tony Guerrero Quintet take the stage in “A Swingin’ Little Christmas.” This hilarious and heartwarming holiday extravaganza promises to be a delightful blend of comedy and music, ensuring a ‘swingin’ good time. The group has brought their joyful banter to audiences across the country, with their holiday album “A Swingin’ Little Christmas” hitting Billboard’s Top 10 Adult Contemporary chart. Hollywood Digest calls it “captivating,” the comedy “spectacular” and the vibe “absolutely precious.”

Mass Arts Center - Greg Abate Jazz Quartet
12-27-2025 8:00 pm
$40 and $35
A celebrated New England saxophonist, flutist, and composer, Greg Abate has an impressively diverse international career, including playing for the Ray Charles Orchestra and the Artie Shaw Orchestra. With over 24 recordings and collaborations with jazz greats like Phil Woods and Kenny Barron, Abate is a significant force in jazz, touring extensively and teaching. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2016 and recently ranked in the Downbeat Readers Poll. The quartet for this show includes Kent Hewitt on piano, Paul Del Nero on bass, and Gary Johnson on drums. The performance will feature selections from the American songbook, jazz standards, popular tunes, and Abate’s original compositions. “It will be swinging,” Abate said.