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Join us for a Swingin’ Christmas

In collaboration with the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation, the American Pops Orchestra presents an evening celebrating the entire iconic album of holiday classics.

  • Fred Vigeant
Left to right: Maestro Luke S. Frazier and host Vanessa Williams.

 Courtesy of Kevin Parisi/American Pops Orchestra, Inc

Left to right: Maestro Luke S. Frazier and host Vanessa Williams.

Watch Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams Tuesday, December 15 at 8:00pm on WITF. You can stream WITF TV live on our website and through the PBS Video app on Roku, Apple TV and iPhone and Android smartphones. The program is also available on-demand through the PBS Video app.

 

In partnership with The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Maestro Luke Frazier and APO present a new take on Ella’s classic 1960 holiday album, Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams, performed in its entirety by a stellar lineup of artists. One of the most celebrated holiday albums of all time, it featured classic American songs of the season, including “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Winter Wonderland.”

Filmed in front of a small, socially-distanced live audience under strict COVID-19 mitigation procedures at the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams features performances by Grammy and Tony Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater (joining APO from New Orleans); Broadway and jazz vocalist Carmen Ruby Floyd; Broadway star and recording artist Morgan James; Grammy and Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis; and celebrated recording artist Nova Y. Payton. The program also features performances by its host, the multi-Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-nominee Vanessa Williams. All performers are joined by The American Pops Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Luke Frazier.

Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams airs Tuesday, December 15 at 8:00pm and will stream simultaneously at WITF.org/Watch, the PBS Video App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV and Chromecast.

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