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Christmas Party | Holiday Entertaining

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Christmas Party | Holiday Entertaining | by Elegant Music

Live Music – DJ Dance Music – Professional Announcing – Los Angeles – Southern California

 

Christmas Sing-Along Solo Piano

 

Christmas In May Blues Band

 

Coming December 24, 2025 Elegant Music Quintet will perform a Traditional Christmas Eve service at Faith Lutheran Church. 7:00 PM.

Official invite to come.

 

Elegant Music. Tips for Christmas and Holiday Entertaining:

  • Pick a date. Any date and guests will come.
  • Present food you like.
  • Present music you like.
  • Decorate the way you like it.
  • Express your self and enjoy your creation.

 

Summary: Simple concepts easily understood:

  • Reach out.
  • Bring together family, friends and food.
  • Call Elegant Music.
  • Combine ingredients.
  • Mix gently.

Sheila and I wish you all the best!

 

Here’s to bringing everyone together :-)

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

Elegant Music 323-270-3650

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Christmas In May Blues

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More Christmas In May Blues

Songs featured in this video:

“Sit Down Baby” Otis Rush 1956,

“Caress Me” Jimmy Reed 1959,

“That’s Why I Love The Road” Gary Allegretto

I love this group!

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

Elegant Music 323-270-3650

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Grand Canon | In Search Of America

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Grand Canyon In Search of America

German Couple In Search of America

On a trip to the Grand Canyon in 2001 BC (before kids) I heard a variety of languages French, Dutch and Japanese being spoken.

I asked a German couple why they decided to travel to the Grand Canyon?

They said, “They wanted to see the country that John Wayne came from.”

Now that’s a favorable idea about America. It’s about a hero. It’s a search for an ideal that brought that couple halfway around the world to America.

Hollywood in many ways has promoted that “self reliant pioneer spirit that won the West” and by this, I believe that America has a good reputation around the world.

I was made proud when I heard their story.

 

The Jazz Era of the 1920s – The Swing Era of the “30s” and “40s.”

Along with the international influence of Hollywood, American Jazz of the 1920s, 30s and 40s also contributed to the broad dissemination of American culture throughout the world.

The “Great American Song Book” is essentially a collection of Broadway Show Tunes “covered” “recorded” and made popular by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and others.

American Jazz Musicians adopted this music and their interpretation and improvisation created a new art form and freedom of expression. 

Please see this video honoring “The Greatest Generation”:  100th Birthday Party Swing Band @ Shakespear Club Pasadena, California

 

Shakespeare Club 171 S Grand Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

 

Happy July 2025!

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

Elegant Music 323-270-3650

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Speakeasy Jazz Pasadena, California

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1920s Jazz Covers of Contemporary Music and “Jazz Age” Standards.

 

On this recording amongst the din of several spirited card games hear Guitar Piano String Bass perform excerpts of these songs:

“Ena Gotta Da Vida” by Doug Ingle, Iron Butterfly

“Honeysuckle Rose” 1928 Fats Waller & Andy Razaf

“Bad Romance” 2009 Lady Gaga & RedOne

“There Is a Mountain” by Donovan

“Doxy” 1954 Sonny Rollins

“Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue” (Has anybody seen my gal?)

“Seven Nation Army” 2002 Jack White, White Stripes

Definition:

“torcedor”

A person who rolls cigars for events is called a torcedor. 
Torcedors are skilled artisans trained in the art of hand-rolling cigars. This term comes from the Spanish word “torcer,” meaning “to twist”. 

For me, the only thing missing from this event was a thick haze of cigar smoke; they did have a torcedor rolling cigars but the smoking of cigars was enjoyed out side.

 

More Jazz Trios

 

2 words – “speak-easy”

Studying a subject is made easy by understanding the vocabulary of that subject. One’s understanding of a word is enhanced by knowing the “etymology” of the word; “where the word comes from” and “its original meaning.”

 

More Definitions:

“prohibition”

noun:

Definition #2. the prevention by law of the manufacture and sale of alcohol, especially in the US between 1920 and 1933
Derivation: late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin prohibitio(n-), from prohibere ‘keep in check’.

“speakeasy”

noun:

1. (during Prohibition) an illicit liquor store or nightclub
Derivation: “…so called because of the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public…” Wikipedia

“86”

verb:

Definition #1. To remove. To end usage. Or take something out or away.
Derivation: Chumley’s, a famous and OLD New York speakeasy, is located at 86 Bedford Street. During Prohibition the “entrance” was through an interior adjoining courtyard “Pamela Court” used to provide privacy and discretion for customers. A New York tradition at the time “the cops” were on the payroll of the bar and would give a ring to the bar that they were coming for a raid. The bartender would then give the command “86 everybody!” which meant that everyone should hightail it out the 86 Bedford entrance because the cops were coming in through the Pamela Court entrance. Urban Dictionary.

Speakeasy Password

I can not confirm or deny the existence of a speakeasy somewhere in Pasadena. If it did exist it of course would be secret. One would have to know the password for entry…

“Psst!” try “Sword Fish”.

Here’s to great parties where no one has to 86!

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann

Elegant Music 323-270-3650

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Christmas In May Blues Party Band

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Songs featured in this video:

“That’s Alright Mama”

“Stir It Up”

“They All Asked For You”

“Cissy Strut”.

 

 

Left to right: Ryan Schneidermayer Drums, Gary Allegretto Harmonica, Ian Espinoza Guitar, Eric Zimmermann Piano and Left Hand Bass.

“Christmas Party in May” (a true story)

The circumstances that might have caused a Christmas party to be moved to May are still a mystery.

But the creativity required to artfully circumvent these mysterious circumstances “and have the party anyway” are a testament to “You’ve Got To Fight, For Your Right, To Party!”

For the host, throwing a party is a lot of work. But it’s creative work. Any activity that brings people together is a constructive undertaking.

Imagining what your event will be like and putting it all together makes planning a party just as much fun as the party itself. 

Planning occurs as one looks into the future envisioning the desired effect one wants to create. In the flood of ideas that comes an itinerary develops.

Combining food and music with some ambient lighting the stage is set for people to do what comes naturally.

As the host you know your guests. 

And just know that some people you know would enjoy knowing other people you know. That’s the art of the seating chart and place cards at a formal dinner event.

After the party, very often the host and those that helped will gather to reflect on the evening and how much fun it was.

Reasons To Party

There are many reasons and occasions to celebrate:

 

  • Stories are told.

 

  • New friends are made.

 

  • Long time friends catch up with each other.

 

  • Guests start the next day with an inspired optimism.
    • They too feel like doing something creative:
      • take dance lessons…
      • learn to play guitar…
      • or perhaps throw a party of their own…

 

Note from the host:

 

And so it goes; the effects of a great party inspire us and this inspiration continues to ripple outward.

The best party is always the next party.

See more video by the Christmas In May Blues Band

 

Let’s chat. Call me: 323-270-3650

Sincerely, Eric Zimmermann Elegant Music

 

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