Helen Daley

As memories of the recent Arizona Classic Jazz Festival are still reverberating and our souls are singing with joy, we are now getting ready for a wonderful Christmas program on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Phoenix-Chandler Golf Resort, One San Marcos Place, Chandler. In fact, this will most likely be the best Christmas program you will attend all month. Dan says it will be a Christmas Party you will not forget.

This Christmas Party will be filled with danceable Christmas tunes, many of them with a jazzy twist. Leader and trumpet player Dan Reed will be introducing some new (to us) players, but all professionals: Ellen Chaffee on vocals, Holly Channel on drums, Gale Gleason on trombone and tuba, Megan Marshall will be playing banjo and guitar, Jim Whitaker will play piano and sing, and multi-instrumentalist Wen Wu plays all the woodwind instruments plus spoons, and even tap dances. There will be many surprises along the way.

The Arizona Classic Jazz Society presents eight jazz parties and one festival every year. The cost for the jazz parties is $15 for ACJS members; $20 non-members (become a new member on the 5th and get in free that day; membership for a full 12 months is $35 per couple, $25 single). There are two dance floors. For more information, go to www.azclassicjazz.org.

This is the time of year when we want to spread cheer to those less fortunate. If you are planning to attend on the 5th, it would be very much appreciated if you bring an unwrapped gift for a child. All donations will be given to The Salvation Army for distribution. Cash donations are also accepted.