Join renowned vocalist and cellist Shana Tucker as she brings her unique genre of “ChamberSoul” to your favorite holiday standards. Tucker is joined by award-winning jazz pianist and arranger Christian Tamburr and upright bassist Kenny Phelps-McKeown. Having headlined everywhere from The Apollo Theater to Lincoln Center, you can’t miss the artistry and musical collaboration these artists bring to the stage.
Program announced from the stage.
About the musicians
Shana Tucker is a vocalist, cellist, singer-songwriter, arts advocate, teaching artist, collaborator, and cultural conduit. In each role, she builds connections through her unique genre of “ChamberSoul”, weaving jazz, roots, folk, acoustic pop, and R&B into memorable melodies.
Tucker has collaborated and recorded with such greats as jazz saxophonist and composer Bennie Maupin and jazz flutist and composer Nicole Mitchell. Former President Barack Obama listed the song “Better” featuring Tucker and the Foreign Exchange on his 2022 summer playlist. Some of her North Carolina dance/cello collaborations include When We Were Queens, a commissioned work about woman artists of color from the South and their African Diasporic legacies; They Are All, an exploration of living with Parkinson’s disease; and Continuing To Tell, a multidisciplinary performance highlighting the Civil Rights history of Durham, NC. Her work in education spans 20 years and includes the “Ms. Shana” television series on PBSNC and service as executive director of Kidznotes youth orchestra.
Christian Tamburr is a vibraphonist, pianist, composer, and arranger who has performed in over 67 countries. Downbeat Magazine has recognized him with the Outstanding Solo Jazz Performance award, and he is a five-time Critics Choice Top Rising Star award recipient on vibraphone. His Christian Tamburr Quintet performs regularly at such venues as Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and Newport Jazz Festival.
Tamburr began his jazz career at age 14 and has since released seven recordings and performed with such jazz legends as Clark Terry, James Moody, Kenny Barron, and Milt Hinton. He has worked as musical director and pianist for Julio Iglesias, Cirque du Soleil in Macau, China, Landau Eugene Murphy, and Penn & Teller; performed on vibraphone with pianist Dave Brubeck and as solo percussionist with Michael Feinstein; and toured in the UAE and throughout Asia with Jazz at Lincoln Center as a global ambassador to arts and education.
Kenny Phelps-McKeown is a native of Durham, NC. He studied bass at Florida State University under Rodney Jordan and Marcus Roberts, and has performed with Christian Scott and Les DeMerle, among others. He currently does freelance work of all styles and performs with local North Carolina talent. His newest venture is leading and composing for the Kenny Phelps-McKeown Quartet.