Our yearly musical collage of seasonal delights pairs two marvelous area vocalists with the exquisitely trained Tacoma Youth Chorus. Stephanie Porter has a clear, sultry voice and an appealing stage presence. “Lord, how this lady sings!” wrote Downbeat critic Harvey Siders. “For consistent hipness, cool guy Jake Bergevin wins out!” enthused the Philadelphia Daily News. In addition to his velvety voice, Jake adds smoky and elegant trumpet playing to the mix. This season’s gonna sizzle!
The Tacoma Youth Chorus will be featured in new versions, specially orchestrated for this concert, of “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” “Little Drummer Boy,” "We Need A Little Christmas," and more. Stephanie Porter and Jake Bergevin will perform in “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Sleigh Ride,” "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," "Blue Christmas," and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” among other favorites. As always, the audience young and old will be invited to join in for a rousing carol sing-along at the conclusion of the program.
Seattle singer and trumpeter Jake Bergevin has played performances at many of the city’s most prestigious venues and events, including the Showbox Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Bumbershoot, Folklife Festival, five years running at the Ellensburg Jazz in the Valley Festival plus hundreds of private events. His new CD, Holding Back the Dawn, features mysterious and moody ballads and bossa novas with a generous dose of vocalese and soaring solos from Jake as well as saxophonist Saul Cline.
Also a Seattle native, vocalist Stephanie Porter has had a passion for music her whole life. A longtime figure in the Northwest jazz scene, Porter has worked with over 50 groups as a freelance vocalist and is often spotlighted as a featured or special guest artist in some of the region’s top venues. Her latest album, How Deep is the Ocean, is a brilliant showcase of her amazing talent as a vocalist.