EC-CHAP Jazz Series: A Special Holiday Performance with Grammy Winner Nicole Zuraitis

Tickets $30.00+Fees in Advance (ONLINE) / $35.00 at the Door

DOORS: 6:30PM / PERFORMANCE: 7:30PM

Special Note: It is an honor to feature two time GRAMMY winner and six time GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter Nicole Zuraitis back to The Packing House stage! Over the past few years, Nicole has zoomed to the top of the Jazz Vocalist world as a National and International sensation, performing at the most prestigious jazz venues across the globe.

A Connecticut native, Nicole remains true to her beginnings with a big heart and tremendous talents. As a member of the EC-CHAP Board of Directors, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to support our mission as a nonprofit cultural destination. This is the 2026 Holiday Show to be a part of.

NICOLE ZURAITIS is a 2X GRAMMY® winning and 6X GRAMMY-nominated jazz singer-songwriter (nominated in 4 distinct categories: Best Jazz Vocal Album, Best Large Jazz Ensemble, Best Jazz Performance and Best Arrangement), pianist, producer, arranger and winner of the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. With a “heart as big as her remarkable voice,” (Jazz Police), Nicole has positioned herself as one of the top artists and "prolific songwriters" (Broadway World) to watch in jazz and beyond, coining The Modern Songbook.

Nicole's arrangement of Dolly Parton's Jolene, co-written with renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, was nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY®, spring boarding her career and making her a household name in the modern-day jazz landscape. In 2020, she was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly live stream during the Covid-19 crisis, "Virtual Piano Lounge," was featured in Forbes Magazine.

As a recording artist, Nicole has released seven albums as leader, and her sixth album, How Love Begins, co-produced with eight-time GRAMMY-winner Christian McBride, won BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM at the 2024 GRAMMY® awards and features all original music. She is the only person ever to have earned this award who wrote and arranged the entire album herself.

In addition to leading her quartet, Nicole performed and recorded with the Birdland Big Band as the premier vocalist before taking off as a large ensemble leader of her own, co-producing the Dan Pugach Big Band and guesting for major big bands around the globe. She has headlined at Newport Jazz Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Caramoor, Saratoga Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, and Tanglewood, along with iconic NYC jazz clubs like Dizzy’s Club at Lincoln Center, Birdland, the Blue Note, the Carlyle, 54 Below and the late, great 55 Bar. She also has appeared as a featured soloist with the Savannah Philharmonic, Asheville Symphony, and Macon Pops as well as the Danish Radio Big Band. Her original song “Always” closed the 2025 Teyana Taylor album Escape Room (Def Jam Records).

Her live album Live at Vic’s Las Vegas, which she produced, wrote and arranged featuring Tom Scott, Keyon Harrold, Rachel Eckroth, Idan Morim, Sam Weber and Dan Pugach, was nominated for 2 GRAMMYS in 2026.

Her newest album The Devil I Knew, produced by the legendary Larry Klein, released July 17th, 2026 and was featured on NPR Jazz Night in America as an “introspective epic”.

Join us for this Special Holiday Show with this INCREDIBLE Musician! This program is hosted by the "Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance" (EC-CHAP). Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm. Tickets $30.00 Advance (Online) / $35.00 Door.

Soft drinks and snacks available. We are pleased to offer our exclusive "BYOB&F" TM model - Bring Your Own Beverage & Food (Wine & Beer Only - I.D. Required).  You can also bring your paid ticket to Willington Pizza House (or WP Too) for eat-in or take-out the night of the show and receive 15% off your meal purchase. Ask for "The Packing House" pizza! Click HERE for secret recipe. 

 For more information, please call 518-791-9474.

EC-CHAP Jazz  Series: Django Reinhardt Birthday Bash at The Packing House with The Luke Hendon Combo

Tickets $25.00+Fees in Advance (ONLINE) / $30.00 at the Door

EC-CHAP MEMBER DISCOUNTS & FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM AVAILABLE

SPECIAL NOTE: EC-CHAP is excited to have Luke Hendon return to The Packing House stage. Luke brings his own original qualities to the Gypsy Jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt. What makes THIS evening extra special is Luke shares his Gypsy Jazz chops on Django Reinhardt’s Birthday - January 23, 1910! Come see and hear this exceptional musician on a very special night!

Veteran guitarist LUKE HENDON and his group will perform at The Packing House on January 23rd, 2026, celebrating the anniversary of Django Reinhardt’s birthday. You can expect to hear some Gypsy jazz standards in Reinhardt’s honor, but also original, modern music that gives nods to his influence. Reinhardt was an innovator of his time and the group will strive to bring that spirit into the present.

Hendon has studied Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz around the world and is well versed in the techniques and nuances in the style. Hendon has an album called Silk and Steel, that he recorded shortly after studying in the Netherlands with Sinti guitarists, Paulus Schafer and Fapy Lafertin.

The album was Hendon’s initial modern take on Django’s style. Jazz Scene magazine says that it is “beautifully performed and every note counts.” Jazz Profiles Says it’s “an homage to Django’s influence accompanied by Luke’s statement of independent creativity.” And The New York City Jazz Record states that “Hendon’s take on the style is to inject some very modern energy along with judiciously placed non-jazz undertones. That’s the crucial difference between maintaining and enriching a legacy.”

Hendon has performed around the world, opened for legendary acts like Al Green, Sun Ra, and Los Lobos, composed and recorded for TV and film, worked with dance ensembles, cruise ships, theatre companies and bands. He founded Goodfoot, which took the Dallas, Texas area by storm in the nineties. He’s also been a session guitar player on pop, funk, blues, folk, rock, jazz, and world music in a plethora of settings.

In his acoustic project, Luke Hendon cooks up a gumbo of old and new. He playfully mixes modern influences and traditional gypsy jazz with virtuosity and style. In other arenas Luke has worked professionally as a composer, a session musician and guitarist in many different styles of music.

"This a must have for those with the heart of a gypsy." -George Harris, Jazz Weekly

"Hendon’s take on the style is to inject some very modern energy along with judiciously placed non-jazz undertones. That’s the crucial difference between maintaining and enriching a legacy." -Mark Keresman, New York City Jazz Record

"Django's music always brings a smile to the lips and transports one back 1930s France, and the best compliment here is that Hendon's music does the same, but also with a foot planted firmly in the here and now in this too short, extremely well done recording."  -Budd Kopman,  All About Jazz

Hendon is excited to return to the packing house and hopes to stretch out even more, exploring the spirit of innovation while celebrating the birthday of one of his heroes, Django Reinhardt.

Join us for an amazing evening of acoustic jazz original works and arrangements by this outstanding artist!  This program is hosted by the "Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance" (EC-CHAP). Doors 6:30pm / Show 7:30pm. Tickets $25.00 (+fees) Advance (Online) / $30.00 Door.

 Soft drinks and snacks available. We are pleased to offer our exclusive "BYOB&F" TM model - Bring Your Own Beverage & Food (Wine & Beer Only - I.D. Required).  You can also bring your paid ticket to Willington Pizza House (or WP Too) for eat-in or take-out the night of the show and receive 15% off your meal purchase. Ask for "The Packing House" pizza! Click HERE for secret recipe. 

 For more information, please visit: call 518-791-9474.