The Jazz Nativity was born in New York City where well-known jazz stars were available to play the major roles. But the wonderful thing about the show is that it can be done anywhere using local talent.  The show brings together two worlds, the world of theater and the world of jazz.  It brings together people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs. In Topeka, it was a country singer who played the role of Mary, two gospel singers sang the roles of the Guardian Angels and had a wonderful time learning the scat chorus.  The choir there was a children’s choir with some adults added to fill out the lower parts. In Chicago it was the Milton Ruffin Gospel Choir.  -------------------- NEW! BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT A JAZZ NATIVITY - ENSEMBLE VERSION 16 MUSICIANS AND SINGERS PLAYING  MULTIPLE ROLES "a stirring celebration of Christmas" - CBS Sunday Morning "the sacred and secular swirl and soar" - Topeka Record "a spiritual classic" "unpretentiously joyous!" - Music Paper, NY US1 BENDING TOWARDS THE LIGHT … A JAZZ NATIVITY Composed and arranged by Anne Phillips   "Bending Towards the Light…A Jazz Nativity" is now available in an ensemble version. This new production is performed with a cast of sixteen musicians and singers many of whom play multiple roles. The first performance of the show in this form was produced at Birdland, the famed jazz club in New York, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day last December. The singers in the four voice vocal group also play the roles of the host,  Mary, Joseph and the Guardian Angels. These singers and the soprano Archangel, the tap dancing King and the Shepherd Boy make up the seven voice choir. Simple costuming and staging make the effective transitions. The show, now referred to in the press as "a Christmas treasure" is as powerful in this new ensemble version as is always has been in its larger productions.    Band,  8 people (piano,bass,drums,perc, tpt, 2 sax, tmb)    conductor within band or vocal group Vocal group/characters/host, 4 people Shepherd child Archangel           Kings, 3  people (two instrumentalists [one from band] and a tap dancer)           For perusal script and score: G. Schirmer Inc. Promotion Dept. 257 Park Ave South 20th Fl. New York, NY 10010 Tel. 212-245-2100  Fax: 212-254-2013 For performance materials:  G. Schirmer, Inc.  Rental and performance Dept. PO Box 572 Bellvale Road Chester, NY 10918 Tel: 845-496-2271  Fax: 845-469-7544    -------------------- Shows in Other Cities TOPEKA, KANSAS COMPOSER’S JAZZ-STYLE NATIVITY HAS AUDIENCE SHOUTING ‘HALLELUJAH! Anne Phillips has created a compelling evening in which the secular and sacred swirl and soar!  Her singular holiday vision was brought to life by her superb writing and the sound-of-surprise playing by the Kansas City and Topeka musicians who lifted the bandstand – and spirits!  Its an inspired evening not to be missed! --Chuck Berg CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Chicago never has lacked for holiday shows, what with all the "Messiahs", "Nutcrackers" and "Christmas Carols" that proliferate at this time of year. Yet glorious though they are, none of these classics is half so giddy, nor so utterly entertaining as the "Jazz Nativity" that burst onto the stage of Orhestra Hall on Sunday afternoon. --Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

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