Ivy Tornow

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   IVY TORNOW   “I love to tap!”   I started tap dancing when I was four years old and I loved it. However, after a couple of years I quit tap and then moved over to ballet and jazz.    Fast forward 42 years, a friend told me that there was an…

Daniel Nash

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   DANIEL NASH   I’ve been tap dancing for almost 4 years, and dancing with Rhythm Nation for almost a year.    Most of my tap experience has come from Wendi and her son, Will. My favorite thing about tap dance is the fun and challenging moves we sometimes do. My favorite…

Amanda Patrick

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   Amanda Patrick AMANDA PATRICK   She is truly devoted to the discipline of tap…   How long have you been tap dancing?  8 years   How long have you been performing with Rhythm Nation Tap Company?  6 years   From whom/where have your received most of your tap dance training from? …

Sophie Jackston

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   Sophie Jackson SOPHIE JACKSON   The JAM Christmas Follies welcomes Sophie to the Follies dance teams.   Sophie has been studying dance for around 17 years now. Her preferences include Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary and Musical Theatre.    Sophie began training at Childrens Ballet Theatre in Salt Lake City until she was…

Wendy Isaacson

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   WENDI ISAACSON director of Rhythm Nation Tap Company   Wendi Isaacson, director of Rhythm Nation Tap Company,  is a dance teacher, choreographer, and professional tap dancer. Wendi Isaacson holds her degree from Brigham Young University, where she graduated with University Honors in English and Dance Education.  While at BYU she was…

Matt Vashlishan

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES   saxophonist and multi-woodwind instrumentalist Matt Vashlishan saxophonist and multi-woodwind instrumentalist   Matt Vashlishan is a saxophonist and multi-woodwind instrumentalist from northeast Pennsylvania, USA. He holds a DMA from the University of Miami, MM from William Paterson University, and a BM from the Eastman School of Music, all in saxophone performance. Matt…

Brian Booth

Brian Booth JAM salutes a long-time musician/composer/arranger.   Brian Booth, a terrific musician/composer/arranger, great friend, and a devoted member of the Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra for over thirty years, joins us again in the 2023 JAM Christmas Follies.    Saxophonist, composer and arranger, Brian Booth, is a professional free-lance musician who performs across the…

Duke Ellington: The Nutcracker Suite

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES Duke Ellington: The Nutcracker Suite Duke Ellington The Nutcracker Suite   JERRY FLOOR NOTE: In late 2020, I received a call from my friends, Louie Strike and Molli Hull. They were very excited to tell me that they had just heard the Ellington Nutcracker Suite, and they were wondering if I were…

Jay Lawrence Jam Christmas Follies

JAM CHRISTMAS FOLLIES Drummer for The Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra Jay Lawrence Drummer for The Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra   Jay Lawrence operates LIJA Music Inc., co-owns the Jazz Hang record label with colleague Ray Smith, is a co-Founder of The G.A.M. Foundation Celebrity Jazz concert series and the Jazz Mentors Foundation concert…

The JAM Christmas Follies is back!

The best family Christmas show is back for a second year. Presented by Jazz Arts of the Mountainwest and Salt Lake County Zoo Arts & Parks, the 2022 JAM Christmas Follies will be held on December 21, 2022 at 7:00 PM and December 22, 2022 at 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. This year’s event will…