Holiday Program Specials | Dec. 19-31

Toast of the Nation

Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 | 7  PM-3 AM

NPR and KUVO present Toast of the Nation, an annual New Year’s Eve musical extravaganza to take you through midnight and beyond! Turn up your radio or computer for music you can party to all night long!  Hosted by Rhonda Hamilton, you’ll enjoy music by Wynton Marsalis, Snarky Puppy, Wycliffe Gordon, and others.

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R&B JukeBox Annual Christmas Show with Rolando Garcia

Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 | 6-8 PM

Tune in to enjoy classic R&B artists singing and playing swingin’, jumpin’, and rockin’ holiday tunes. You’ll hear Wilson Pickett, The Moonglows, Allen Toussaint, Charles Brown, BB King, Ray Charles, and many more! 

Jazz Piano Christmas XXVI

Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 | 10-11  PM

NPR Music brings you another great concert from Kennedy Center. Kenny Barron, Fred Hersch, and Carmen Staaf perform their favorite holiday songs in a program hosted by Felix Contreras.

Song Travels: Home for the Holidays

Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 | 11 PM

Join Michael Feinstein for an hour of yuletide cheer and music. This edition of Song Travels journeys from Hollywood’s vintage silver screen to New York City’s iconic Birdland club. The Michael Feinstein Big Band performs selections from the classic movie White Christmas, and Feinstein shares rare recordings from some of his favorite performers.

Salsa Con Jazz Holiday Special : A Caribbean Christmas Party!

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 | 4-6 PM

Oh, the joy of Christmas season in the Caribbean! Visit the various islands, enjoying the unique traditions, food, and music of the holiday season, which, by the way, lasts a long, long while on the islands! From Puerto Rico and Cuba to Jamaica to the Afro-Caribbean influences of holiday music and food in the Americas, be ready for a feast of fun, music, and memories from this beautiful and unique cultural salsa known as A Caribbean Christmas Party! For questions, comments, suggestions on Salsa con Jazz, send your message to salsaconjazz@comcast.net.

Listen to this preview from Janine and Steve, music by Yomo Toro.

The Nightside Before Christmas with Andy O’: Blue X-Mas to Cool Yule

Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 | 8-11 PM 

This program special will feature jazz carols and poetry of the season.

The 36 Hours of Christmas (on The Other Side of KUVO)

Thursday, Dec. 24 at noon – midnight Friday, Dec. 25

Enjoy an eclectic and commercial free holiday mix filled with the classical, chill, and new age music of the season. Featured artists include Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields, Seth MacFarlane, Chanticleer, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Crystal Theory, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Waverly Consort, Mannheim Steamroller, Jim Brickman, Idina Menzel, Baltimore Consort, Sam Smith, Jerry Douglas, Peas, and Barenaked Ladies.

Christmas on Jazz After Hours 

Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 | 10 PM-2 AM

Jazz musicians have always had holiday fun giving Christmas a jazzy twist. This year, “Jazz After Hours” is planning a new 2-hour Christmas special, full of fresh holiday jazz, some just released for Christmas 2015. This new Christmas special will cheer up your listeners and get everyone in the holiday spirit.

An Afro Blue Christmas

Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 | 6 AM

Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University’s premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut.  Hear the a-cappela group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire.  The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas.  Hosted by Michele Norris.

Festivo Alt.Latino With Gaby Moreno & Friends

Friday, Dec. 25, 2015 at 9 PM

Alt.Latino continues its homegrown tradition of celebrating the holidays in song with a special show featuring songwriter/performer Gaby Moreno. Vocalist Moreno brings a Muscle Shoals-tinged holiday celebration to this year’s Festivo Alt.Latino. Classics from the U.S. and Latin America get a shimmering bluesy, R&B treatment from Moreno and her four-piece band in a performance recorded live in front of a studio audience at KUTX in Austin, Texas. There is plenty of joy and holiday spirit in both English and Spanish that will add a new dimension to the idea of holiday music.