Jazz pianist Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Philadelphia headline debut with 'A Guaraldi Holiday', a tribute to the music of Vince Guaraldi.
Isaiah J. Thompson makes his Philadelphia headline debut at the Zellerbach Theatre on Sunday, December 6, with A Guaraldi Holiday, a tribute to the music of Vince Guaraldi. Most of us know Guaraldi as the man who wrote the score for A Charlie Brown Christmas, and that's the heart of the set. Thompson takes those familiar melodies and runs with them, bringing his own piano playing and contemporary creativity to the songs.
There's a bit of a story behind the venue. The show was originally scheduled for the Prince Theatre, but it sold out there, so it's been moved to the Zellerbach Theatre to make room for more people. Original ticket holders have already been moved and notified, and the night is part of the venue's 26/27 season.
Thompson comes to the city with a strong pedigree: he's an award-winning jazz pianist and composer, a graduate of Juilliard, and now a faculty member there. That background shows in the way he handles the material—crisp piano work that stays true to the source while adding his own voice. It's a holiday concert, but it's built around a specific songwriter rather than a general book of carols.
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It all goes down on Sunday, December 6, at 7 PM at the Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut Street. Tickets are $46.
