Kleinhans Music Hall and JazzBuffalo are pleased to present Swinging in the Holidays featuring Champian Fulton and Carmen Bradford
Sunday, December 6 | 3 PM
The Mary Seaton Room

Jazz at Kleinhans proudly continues a new holiday tradition with the 2nd Annual Jazz at Kleinhans Christmas Celebration— Swinging in the Holidays — a special time of seasonal classics reimagined through the swinging spirit of jazz. This special presentation, adapted from the acclaimed Swinging in the Holidays production, brings a hip, sophisticated take on beloved holiday standards, marrying Broadway, Old Hollywood charm, and timeless favorites with forward-looking jazz artistry.

At the heart of the evening is Champian Fulton — an acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist whose artistry bridges jazz tradition, swing, and the Great American Songbook. Fulton leads her trio through a spirited program of joyous melodies and rich arrangements that capture the warmth and cheer of the season. Her work draws on decades of performance on major jazz stages and reflects a deep command of the jazz tradition, making this a holiday concert like no other.

Swinging in the Holidays brings together an extraordinary international ensemble whose collective credentials span Grammy recognition, major awards, historic big band legacies, and performances on the world’s most revered jazz stages. Led by internationally acclaimed pianist and vocalist Champian Fulton, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Carmen Bradford, and others, to be announced. Together, these artists represent multiple generations of jazz excellence — rooted in the Great American Songbook tradition while vibrantly alive in today’s global jazz landscape. Their combined experience includes performances at Lincoln Center, Birdland, The Kennedy Center, major international festivals, and concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For this special holiday production at Kleinhans Music Hall, they unite in a swinging celebration that honors jazz’s rich legacy while delivering the joy, warmth, and sophistication that define the season.

Swinging in the Holidays celebrates the music that defined an era — from the swing classics of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Nat “King” Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald to the nostalgic favorites that anchor our holiday memories — all re-imagined with sophistication, imagination, and joyful spirit.

This performance also coincides with the holiday release connected to the Flying High series, Flying High for the Holidays, produced by Fulton, further underscoring the evening’s blend of tradition and creative jazz interpretation. It is not simply a Christmas concert — it is a polished artistic celebration of rhythm, melody, and shared experience, presented in the magnificent acoustical setting of Kleinhans Music Hall.

About Champian Fulton

Champian Fulton is an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and vocalist whose artistry stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Recognized by The New York Times as “a charming young steward of the mainstream jazz tradition” and by critics as one of her generation’s most gifted voices, Fulton has spent more than two decades shaping a singular voice in jazz. She has released 19 albums as a leader, earned multiple Album of the Year honors from The NYC Jazz Record, and was named Pianist & Vocalist of the Year by Hot House Magazine. Fulton has performed across the globe — from Lincoln Center and Birdland in New York to festivals and concert halls in Europe, Asia, and beyond — and shared the stage with jazz luminaries including Lou Donaldson, Buster Williams, and Jimmy Cobb. As the artistic force behind the Jazz at the Ballroom – Flying High Christmas album and concert series, Champian brings her deep swing feel, elegant touch, and radiant musical presence to Swingin’ in the Holidays at Kleinhans.