NC Jazz Ensemble Presents Jazzy Big Band Holiday 2025

The North Carolina Jazz Ensemble (NCJE) was organized in 1980 by Oliver Hodge and Stanley Baird and has been active ever since. The group, originally named the Triangle Big Band, was renamed when it began performing for the North Carolina Arts Council.

The Ensemble has presented educational programs for schools around the state and performed at festivals, parks and other outdoor events. The talented band of artists and educators continues performing for private groups and organizations from balls to inaugurations, presenting a diverse repertoire of music for nearly every occasion. The NCJE’s annual holiday concert at Hayti has become a favorite, bringing joy and the holiday spirit to all who attend. Relax and enjoy the big band sounds of the saxophones, trombones, trumpets and rhythm section in Hayti’s virtually acoustically flawless Performance Hall.

Directed by Mr. Stanley Baird and featuring vocalist Denise Barnes and special guest vocalist, Lenard Rutledge, the magic of the “Jazzy Big Band Holiday” concert will put a clap in your hands, a tap in your feet, a smile on your face and the spirit of the season in your heart.