Watch Joy to the World's Holiday Jazz Program this Sunday!

Missed seeing this year’s live performance of Joy to the World with Bob Thompson and guest vocalist Lena Seikaly? No humbugs here!  You can watch it this Sunday, December 20 on WVPB television (7pm on WVPB HD and 11pm on WVPB-2).

Now in its 23rd year, Joy to the World is an annual live performance holiday jazz program hosted by pianist Bob Thompson and produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In addition to a distinguished solo career as the leader of the  Charleston-based Bob Thompson Unit, Thompson has also been a member of the Mountain Stage band since 1991. Earlier this year he was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.

Credit Josh Saul

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For this 2015 show, Bob Thompson and his band are joined by guest vocalist Lena Seikaly, a fresh voice on the national jazz scene from Washington, D.C.  Most recently she was recognized as a 2015 semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. Named “one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers” and “brightest voices in jazz” by The Washington Post, Lena is already making her mark as both a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles.

Sunday’s Joy to the World broadcast features such holiday favorites as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “The Christmas Waltz” and “Christmas Time is Here.”

This year’s show and future radio broadcasts are sponsored in part by The Dominion Foundation and the West Virginia Lottery.

For a complete list of WVPBS channels and TV schedules, go to wvpublic.org.