On Friday, December 3 at 8 pm, Cheney Hall will present a special holiday performance by the Eric Mintel Quartet. The program will feature Jazz interpretations of holiday standards, original holiday compositions, as well as a number of selections of the “Charlie Brown Christmas” Jazz compositions by Vince Guaraldi. General tickets are $15 ($10 Stu/Sr) and VIP $22 ($15 Stu/Sr).

Eric Mintel’s Quartet includes Eric on Piano, Neil Wetzel on sax, Dave Antonow on bass and Jeremy Berberian on drums.

Energetic, lyrical, swinging and always entertaining, the quartet is best known for their affinity to the music of Dave Brubeck. Eric was recently a guest on the prestigious National Public Radio show Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, which will air in Spring 2005. The public has hailed Eric’s passionate piano style, his attention to melody, his catchy original compositions and his use of classical elements within a performance. Mintel’s performance is also an excellent and accessible introduction to Jazz and improvisation for younger listeners. His ability to improvise in 5/4 time in “Take 5” and in 12/8 in “Blue Rondo ala Turk” are a tour de force of musicianship.

The Charlie Brown Christmas Album features compositions by the late Vince Guaraldi. It is one of the most popular holiday recordings of all time, including the instantly recognizable “Linus and Lucy,” as well as “Skating” and “Christmastime is Here”. Eric Mintel’s performance will be an excellent opportunity to get into the holiday spirit

Cheney Hall is operated by the Little Theatre of Manchester. The Hall is located ten minutes east of Hartford, off of I-384 exit 2, at 177 Hartford Road, in Manchester. This performance I smade possible by funding from the Greater Hartford Arts Council, Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, the Hartfotrd Foundation for Public Giving and the Lincoln Financial Group Foundation.

For interviews and press kit, visit www.ericmintelquartet.com, or email or call Eric Mintel at e-mail protected from spam bots, 215-295-0320.