LIVE: The Peanut Gallery Jazz Band’s “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” @ the College of Saint Rose’s Massry Center, 12/2/11

Billed as the Peanut Gallery Jazz Band, pianist and host David Gleason, bassist Mike Lawrence and drummer Pete Sweeney delivered a wonderfully spirited family-friendly evening of the late Vince Guaraldi’s music.

Of course, Guaraldi’s compositions and piano-playing style have been etched into the American subconscious for well over 40 years as the soundtrack of the classic Peanuts’ holiday cartoon, “It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas.”

The brainchild of the Massry Center’s program director Salvatore Prizio, “It’s a Jazzy Christmas” was an unprecedented hit – after the initial 7pm sold out, a second 9pm show was added due to the high demand for tickets.

With a stage full of Christmas decorations, an audience sing-a-long and a healthy dose of humor, the Peanut Gallery Jazz Band captivated the all-ages audience and beautifully transported the packed house at the College of Saint Rose’s Picotte Recital Hall into the heart of the holiday season.

Review and photographs by Andrzej Pilarczyk