Bob Thompson and his band announce the 23rd season of Joy to the World, featuring special guest vocalist Lena Seikaly, with three shows in three West Virginia cities.
Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. – Culture Center Theater in Charleston. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, if available. All seats are General Admission. Purchase tickets online, by phone (877-987-6487), and in person at Taylor Books at 226 Capitol Street in Charleston.
Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. – Presented by Reinvent Wheeling-Capitol Theatre, 1015 Main Street, Wheeling. Advance Tickets are $19.50, Day of Show $25. Call (304) 233-4470, visit WesBanco Arena, 2 14th St, Wheeling or online.
Dec. 12 at 8p.m. – Smoot Theatre, 213 5th St. Parkersburg, WV 26101. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, General Admission. Call (304)422-7529 or go online to SmoothTheatre.com
Now in its 23rd year, Joy to the World is an annual live performance holiday jazz program hosted by pianist Bob Thompson and produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In addition to a distinguished solo career as the leader of the Charleston-based Bob Thompson Unit, Thompson has also been a member of the Mountain Stage band since 1991.
Singer Lena Seikaly is a fresh voice on the national jazz scene from Washington, D.C. Named “one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers” and “brightest voices in jazz” (The Washington Post), Lena is already making her mark as both a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles. Originally from Falls Church, Virginia, she began her training at age four with piano, continued with classical voice in her teens, and went on to complete a B.M. in classical vocal performance at the University of Maryland School of Music.
As the leader of her own trio, quartet and quintet, Lena has sold out performances at legendary D.C. institutions such as Blues Alley, the Strathmore Mansion, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Twins Jazz and various Smithsonian venues, among others. As a vocalist with other ensembles, she has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival (The Netherlands), the Jazz Ascona Festival (Switzerland), the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee (CA), and was a participant at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass program directed by Christian McBride.
The Joy to the World radio program featuring music from all three concerts will be broadcast in December 2016. The December 10 show in Charleston will be filmed for broadcast on WVPB television in December 20 at 8pm.
