Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra performed Ella Fitzgerald’s iconic holiday album Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas, hosted by Vanessa Williams, with performances by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Morgan James, Norm Lewis, and Nova Y. Payton.  

“Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams” was broadcast on December 15, 2020 on PBS stations and streaming on PBS.org. In partnership with the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Maestro Luke Frazier and APO presented a new take on Ella’s classic holiday album, Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas performed in its entirety for the first time since it was recorded in 1960.

Filmed in front of a small, socially distanced live audience under strict COVID-19 mitigation procedures at the Meridian International Center in Washington, DC, the program featured performances by Grammy & Tony Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater (joining APO from New Orleans); Broadway and Jazz vocalist Carmen Ruby Floyd; Broadway star and recording artist Morgan James; Grammy and Tony Award Nominee Norm Lewis; and celebrated recording artist Nova Y. Payton. The program will also feature performances by its host, multi-Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-nominee Vanessa Williams. All performers were joined by The American Pops Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Luke Frazier.

‍

Preview