Aardvark Jazz 50th Christmas Concert

Called "stunningly beautiful" (The New York City Jazz Record) and "one of the best jazz ensembles in the world" (Jazz Podium, Germany), The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, led by founder and director Mark Harvey, will hold its historic 50th Annual Christmas Concert at the Church of the Covenant in Boston, the venue where Aardvark held its very first concert (50 years ago) on December 23, 1973. This beloved holiday tradition will feature jazz-infused carols, soulful spirituals, and Mark Harvey originals, including his Afro-Jazz Benedictus and his high energy arrangement of Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, a staple of the Christmas concerts since 1973. Tickets are $20, with proceeds to support the Poor People’s United Fund.

Founded in 1973, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra is one of the longest running large jazz ensembles in the world.  The band has performed at concert halls, colleges and universities, festivals, jazz clubs and major cultural institutions. Guest artists have included jazz luminaries Sheila Jordan, Jaki Byard, Ricky Ford, Jimmy Giuffre, Geri Allen, Jay Clayton, Dominique Eade, Vinny Golia, Paul Lovens, Rajesh Mehta, Lewis Porter and Walter Thompson. The band has released 16 CDs, including 10 discs on Leo Records, one of the world’s leading adventurous music labels.

Mark Harvey has performed in the U.S., Mexico and Europe; has recorded with George Russell (Blue Note) and Baird Hersey (Arista/Novus) and has appeared with Gil Evans, Claudio Roditi, Howard McGhee, Sam Rivers, Kenny Dorham and others. In 2019, Jazz Boston honored Mark Harvey with the Roy Haynes Award for “exceptional contributions to jazz and the jazz community.” In 2015, Harvey was named Boston Jazz Hero by the national Jazz Journalists Association.  Commissions have featured such notables as Joe Lovano, Steve Turre, Herb Pomeroy and Ran Blake. Dr. Harvey is a retired Methodist minister and is Senior Lecturer in Music Emeritus at MIT, where he taught jazz studies for 40 years.

Aardvark is: Aardvark is: Arni Cheatham, Allan Chase, Peter H. Bloom, Phil Scarff, Chris Rakowski, Daniel Ian Smith, Dan Zupan/saxes and woodwinds; K.C. Dunbar, Jeanne Snodgrass/trumpets; Bob Pilkington, Jay Keyser/trombones; Bill Lowe/bass trombone, tuba; Rob Bethel, cello; Richard Nelson/guitar; Bruno Raberg/string bass; Harry Wellott/drums; Grace Hughes, vocalist; Mark Harvey/piano, music director.   The orchestra is managed by Americas Musicworks.

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