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 Nominated artist, and Grammy Winner 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.