An evening of Nat King Cole’s music celebrating the holidays, with longtime Aspen favorite Allan Harris and special guests Gloria Reuben and Jumaane Smith, and featuring Arcoiris Sandoval on piano, Marty Kenney on bass, Norman Edwards on drums, Irwin Hall on saxophone. “This powerhouse line-up will have the Wheeler jumping and celebrating!” notes Rigsby Peterson.

Aptly described by the Miami Herald as an artist blessed with “the warmth of Tony Bennett, the bite and rhythmic sense of Sinatra, and the sly elegance of Nat ‘King’ Cole,” Allan Harris is a Brooklyn-born, Harlem-based vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and band leader. With an impressive discography boasting fourteen recordings as a leader, Harris has established himself as one of the jazz world’s most acclaimed vocalists, possessing a potent combination of dynamic vocal abilities, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance.

Gloria Reuben is an actress, singer, and author whose credits span television, film, theater, and music. She was a backup singer for Tina Turner on tour and has recorded three of her original albums.  Gloria’s acting credits on television include the hit television series ER (a role that garnered her two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination. Film credits include Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (with Daniel Day-Lewis), Admission (with Tina Fey), and Reasonable Doubt (with Samuel L. Jackson). Her stage credits include Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play (Lucille Lortel Awards) for her portrayal of Condoleeza Rice in David Hare’s Stuff Happens at New York’s Public Theatre.

Jazz trumpeter, vocalist, and composer Jumaane Smith toured and recorded for 17 years with Michael Buble as his lead trumpeter and vocalist. He also was the featured guest soloist for Jackie Evancho’s Songs of the Silver Screen world tour.  Smith has performed on 5 GRAMMY Award-winning records (selling more than 60 million copies), 2 Emmy Award-nominated TV performances, the GRAMMY Awards with Stevie Wonder, in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (trumpet solo), at The White House, on the Today Show, Tonight Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, and American Idol. He also tours with his band to such world-class venues as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Vail Jazz Festival, Joe’s Pub, and many more.

A New York review put it best: “The song list reads like an album from the past by only the likes of Nat King Cole, but easily ones that might have come from Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, or any number of the great recording artists of the past. “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” …even “Jingle Bells.” …the room wasn’t filled with those who remember those singing stars, but were instead all ages and ethnicities, ready to indulge in nostalgia but with the twist of jazz that always keeps things contemporary.”  – Theater Pizzazz NY