Thurl Bailey, the Utah Jazz legend, will showcase his award-winning vocals next week at Caleb Chapman’s Cool Yule: Holiday Concert Spectacular — from which a portion of the proceeds will go toward Sound Support Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming mental health in Utah’s youth.
The 6-foot-11 former NBA standout will be accompanied by The Crescent Super Band — a group of 25 professional teenage musicians — singing Christmas classics inspired by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr.
A handful of arrangements from Bailey’s 2001 solo Christmas album, “The Gift of Christmas,” will also be part of the musical program.
“Of course everybody in Utah knows Thurl through his work with the Utah Jazz, but he has such an amazing voice,” Chapman, who leads the event, said. “Anytime I can get an excuse to hear Thurl singing, oh my gosh, I’m right there. I love his voice.”
At the tail end of his professional basketball career, Bailey made his debut as a vocalist with his debut album, “Faith in Your Heart.” He has since released a handful of other albums and performed dozens of times, including performances with the Utah Symphony, and he has served as a greeter for The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. His music career has won him two Pearl Awards for best contemporary recording and best new artist of the year.
Chapman noted that Bailey is the perfect fit for the concert because his voice is so versatile. Performing big band holiday hits is “wired into his DNA,” Chapman said.
Bailey has performed with The Crescent Super Band on several occasions, and keeps returning to the opportunity because he is so invigorated by the young talent, according to Chapman.
“Music has a special power to lift hearts and bring people together,” Bailey shared in a statement. “This show captures that spirit in the best way by featuring incredible young musicians, world-class bands, and an audience that leaves feeling the joy of the season. I can’t wait to be part of it!”
Also joining the concert lineup are Ryan Innes and Talon Cardon, who both garnered national attention for their success on the reality singing competition series “The Voice.”
But the real stars of the show, according to Chapman, are the members of The Crescent Super Band. He believes audiences will be amazed at how talented and professional the young performers are.
The Crescent Super Band, which has released two Christmas albums and accompanied accomplished musicians around the world, will “blow people’s minds” with their skills, Chapman said. The combination of the teenagers’ professional playing level and youthful passion is really exciting to watch.
“People hear that the musicians on stage are teenagers, and that they’re really good, and in their minds, they try to envision what really good teenagers would sound like, and every time they are off by a million miles,” said Chapman.
He added, “No matter how many times people tell them, ‘You’re not going to believe this, you won’t believe it.’ They see it and then we have to mop up the drool on the floor.”
A portion of the proceeds from the holiday concert will go toward supporting the Sound Support Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Chapman that seeks to transform mental health and well-being in youth through music performance education.
Funds will be used to support outreach programs, training programs, scholarships and performances.
“This training of these kids, and not just music, but music performance, getting them up on stage and (in front of) a big crowd and working together — it is the best antidote to this (mental health) epidemic that we’re facing right now as a nation," Chapman said of the nonprofit.
While supporting the nonprofit, the concert will be a celebration of local talent, the holiday season and live music. Chapman says it won’t disappoint.
“It really is the sound of the season — that mix of the great vocalist with a big band. It’s just magical,” Chapman said. “It just instantly — at least for me — brings all the feels of Christmas right into the room.”
Tickets for the Cool Yule concert with Thurl Bailey
Caleb Chapman’s Cool Yule concert is on Monday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 pm at The Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City.
Tickets for the event are still available to purchase here, through The Grand Theatre. Tickets start at $27 each.