Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier December 21, 2010

The Junius Courtney Big Band with Denise Perrier swings into Yoshi’s on the Winter Solstice with a new holiday show to light up the longest night of the year. From the drumkit, Nat Courtney leads his 19-piece organization on a holiday romp thorugh a jazz wonderland seasonsed with swingin’ surprises, sparkling arrangements and toasty bits from the Ellington/Strayhorn “Nutcracker.” Denise Perrier draws on international sophistication and soulful blues, serving up the power of her burnished contralto. Like Andy Gilbert says, “Look out!”

Freshly released from some serious work in the studio, the band is currently cookin’. Appearances this past year, including West Coast Live and a special concert for peace for the Afro Solo Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens, have amped it up.

Quickly approaching its fifty-year mark, the band was founded by the late trumpeter Junius Courtney, after he relocated to the Bay Area from New Orleans. With a long-term track record of exciting arrangements, seriously swinging musicians and cultural inclusiveness, the JCBB keeps it fresh by playing hard, and making it authentic and fun. This is the band’s fourth return to Yoshi’s in two years: we invite you to join its enthusiatic audiences, and plan ahead for the holiday show. Reserve your tickets and seats for your family and friends: we want you to save your place in the house with us as we set the longest night ablaze!