Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu

Speak No Evil Jazz blog

Capital Public Radio's discussion of an art form born in America and celebrated worldwide.

subscribe

The legend of CapRadio's Jingle Bell Jazz

  •  Andrew Mills 
Thursday, December 16, 2021 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
 

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

CapRadio’s annual Jingle Bell Jazz has been enlivening Christmas Eve listeners for over 40 years now, hosted live every December 24th and featuring holiday jazz classics to create the perfect Christmas Eve atmosphere. 

But Jingle Bell Jazz started not just with an idea, but a spectral premonition for CapRadio’s Jazz Music Director Gary Vercelli. Here's the [mostly true] story of how it came to be.

===

T’was the 23rd of December two score years ago, 

and Gary Vercelli had no Christmas Eve show. 

Bitter he was for working this day, 

Gary said to himself, “who cares what I play?"

 

Walking home among the trees on this cold and damp night, 

Gary stopped at Tower Records where he was met with a fright. 

Not a Kenny G record, which is what he feared most; 

but before him stood tall, a jazz radio ghost.

 

“What say you?” cried Gary, his will undeterred. “What have you to say I’ve not already heard?”

 

“Three spirits will visit this penultimate eve; 

Jennifer, Kevin, and a third one called Steve. But their names matter not, 

for it’s a warning they bring; of Christmas Eve, jazz, bossa nova and swing.”

 

With that, the ghost vanished — not a trace left in sight; 

Gary went home to his bed and promptly turned out the light.     

 

At the stroke of three he awoke as if he’d not slept at all, and there, 

three figures were — at his back bedroom wall. 

 

Two of them were arguing, left and right of his room; and a third, saying nothing, 

in the darkness it loomed.

 

“Jazz is tradition! The past can’t be forgotten. 

Armstrong and Basie; without them, jazz is rotten.”

 

“The present is what matters. Veronica Swift? She’s the greatest. 

For jazz to move forward, we must hear the latest!”

 

Gary listened to this with naught but dismay, 

“See what I mean? Who cares what I play?”

 

The third spirit rose, and said not a word. It simply pointed to a future, 

one without a sound to be heard.

 

Then in Gary’s heart, a new idea flickered. It came to him suddenly as the other two bickered.

“This music is for all; present, future, and past. So, each Christmas Eve, I’ll play Jingle Bell Jazz.”

  • Jazz
  •  

Andrew Mills

Jazz Announcer

Andrew Mills is a Jazz Announcer at Capital Public Radio. Before joining the music team at CapRadio, he has enjoyed a 20-year career as a professional guitarist.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.