By Steve Paradis
Herald Correspondent
No event will equal the yuletide festivity of Heather Thorn and her Vivacity band’s annual “A Jazzy Christmas” concert that returns to the Blue Bamboo in its beautiful new facility at 406 E. New England Ave., at 8 p.m. Dec. 6.
World-renowned xylophonist Thorn will amplify the jazz with special guest Adrian Cunningham, the New York-based instrumentalist, vocalist, and award-winning recording artist. Cunningham recently recorded “Jazz Speak” with Jazz greats Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton, and Ted Rosenthal. The new music broke the top 20 in the U.S. national Jazzweek charts.
“A Jazzy Christmas” concert will feature “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” a segment by The Andrews Sisters, and a soft shoe dance to “Winter Wonderland” starring Vivacity vocalist Krissy Vavrek’s children and former Radio City Music Hall Rockette Joy Andersen.
Vivacity and the Blue Bamboo also encourage dancers to come and enjoy the elegant evening of live music in an area reserved for dancing.
Joining Thorn in the Vivacity band are world-class musicians:
Paul Parker on drums, who has performed with Michael Andrew, Patrick Moraz and the Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band;
Bassist Greg Zabel, who has traveled with the Glenn Miller Orchestra;
Bob Thornton, a brilliant pianist from the Orlando Jazz Orchestra; and
Guest trumpet player James Suggs, an Arbor Records recording artist.
Lily Vavrek and Cunningham will perform the classic “We Wish You the Merriest” made famous by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
“I named our concert ‘A Jazzy Christmas’ to put more focus on jazz tunes, but we’ll have holiday classics and family friendly performances for a festive evening for all,” Thorn said recently.
Thorn and Vivacity had a full year of performances including November’s 50th anniversary of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis and the Suncoast Jazz Festival in Clearwater Beach. The new year is looking bright, too, as Thorn will give a recital and masterclass at the Paris Conservatory on Jan. 14, 2026.
For “A Jazzy Christmas” concert tickets, go to the link at bluebamboocenter.com or on social media @vivacitymusic or www.linktr.ee/VivacityMusic. Tickets are $35 to $45 with a 20% discount for students and military. (Processing fees added at check out.) To learn more about Vivacity Music and the band’s albums—including their Christmas recording—search social media for @vivacitymusic or visit vivacitymusic.com.
Heather Thorn has performed at the New Orleans Jazz Museum and as the headline act for Festival I Love Jazz in 2019 and 2022 in Brazil. She was a featured guest soloist along with her band for the Orlando Philharmonic Holiday Pops concert in 2021. She performs at the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, Timucua, the Sea World Christmas Celebration, Suncoast Jazz Festival, New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, and with the Walt Disney Orchestra.
