Santa DeSantis at the Palace
The Mario DeSantis Orchestra celebrates Christmas at the Palace at 7:30 p.m. Friday,Dec. 17, featuring vocalists Keith Condon, Maria DeSantis and Ronnie Leigh.
The 12-piece band will perform both inspirational and holiday favorites at the Palace Theater, 2378 James St., in Eastwood.
Syracuse native Joe Magnarelli, who’s now one of New York City’s top trumpeters, will also appear.
Tickets cost $17, and partial proceeds benefit Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society; 488-7611.
Hot harmonies from Burns Sisters
Fresh from their tour with Arlo Guthrie, Ithaca’s Burns Sisters — Annie, Marie and Jeannie — return to May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, 3800 East Genesee St., in Syracuse at 8 p.m. Friday Dec. 17.
Growing up in a family of 14 near Binghamton, the sisters have been harmonizing their whole lives. Although based in the Southern Tier, the trio has become known internationally, appearing on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” in the movie “Atlantic City” and at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
On their holiday CD, “Tradition,” the siblings turned their talents to such chestnuts as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Silent Night” and “Greensleeves.”
Friday’s concert is hosted by The Folkus Project. Admission costs $15. For reservations, call 440-7444.
Dark Hollow rocks Westcott Theater
Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Hollow performs its final show of 2010 following an opening set by IDK at 9 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 18, at the Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., on the city’s east side; 424-4973.
The band features Mike Vincitore on lead guitar, Matt Sandford on rhythm guitar, Mike Callaghan on keyboards, Jake Alaniz on bass, and Jeff Roney and Tim Bergen on drums.
At Saturday’s concert Dark Hollow will unveil a new poster by legendary rock’n’roll artist Mike DuBois who has created artwork for the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Santana and the Rolling Stones.
Admission costs $10 for all ages; thewestcotttheater.com.
Community Choir celebrates solstice
The Syracuse Community Choir will celebrate 25 years of singing for peace and justice with a special anniversary “Coming Home” Winter Solstice Concert at Nottingham High School, 3100 East Genesee St in at 3:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 19. Donations of $10 to $25 will be accepted at the door, but kids are free and no one will be turned away for lack of a donation; 428-8151.
Led since 1985 by Choral Director Karen Mihalyi, the SCC has been about much more than making music. “It’s a radical act of optimism and melodic auditory exclamation of activism and community,” Mihalyi said. SCC choir members sing to build community, to honor sacred traditions, to heal wounds and sing out for those who cannot
The concert will include appearances by the SCC children and teen ensembles and guest performances by Francisco Herrera, Kim and Reggie Harris and Pat Humphries and Sandy Opetow (a.k.a emma’s revolution)
The afternoon will also include a presentation of the 2010 People’s Peace Award to community organizer Geneva Hayden.
Wendell on the Wurlitzer
The Empire State Theatre & Musical Instrument Museum, a.k.a. the CNY Theatre Pipe Organ Society, presents a Christmas program concert featuring Syracuse’s own Wendell Rotter on the world-famous Syracuse Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 19, at the New Times Theater in the Art & Home Center, at the State Fairgrounds in Geddes.
Admission costs $15 for adults, $2 for children, and the theater is handicapped-accessible. For info, visit jrjunction.com/estmim; 451-6551.
Jazz downtown Sunday and Hump Day
Syracuse Area Music Award-winning jazz group, E.S.P. will record its fifth CD next month with Grammy-winning record producer Jimmy Haslip from The YellowJackets. To raise money for the project, E.S.P. presents a Holiday Jazz and Comedy Show on Sunday Dec. 19, at Wise Guys Bistro, 201 S. Salina St., downtown.
E.S.P. features bassist/bandleader Matt Vacanti, saxophonist Brian Scherer, guitarist John Magnante and drummer Karl Sterling.
The evening-long event includes appetizers at 5 p.m., jazz by E.S.P. at 5:30, comedy by Tina Giorgi and Mick Thomas at 7:30 and magic by Dan Uzano at 9. Tickets cost $15, or $25 including dinner; 477-9898; wiseguyssyracuse.com.
Mainstream jazz fans will also enjoy the music of the J.T. Hall Consort performing from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 22, at Syracuse Suds Factory, South Clinton and Walton streets, in Armory Square. Hall plays flugelhorn and his consort blends Latin-flavored tunes with standards and originals. Admission is free, and the Factory’s food pleases every palate as does the suds; 471-2253.
