Halfstep Holidays: Night 1

About Night 1:

Pleaktunes Trio

Experience Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in person like you’ve never experienced before. The Pleaktunes Trio makes their return to the Pittsburgh Winery to bring you their interpretation of the second best-selling jazz album of all time. 

Led by pianist/arranger Jacob Pleakis, The Pleaktunes Trio covers a wide variety of material ranging from tight Ray Brown Trio arrangements to instrumental pop.  Backed by bassist Anton DeFade, and drummer Brian Wolfe, the trio also functions as the rhythm section for bands such as Yacht Rocket, The Nowhere Men, Check Your Bucket, and the Anton DeFade Quintet. 

Mariko Reid

Singer Mariko Reid is back with her take on Christmas jazz classics. Joined by Mark Strickland on Guitar and George Jones on percussion it is sure to be the coziest set of music you hear all season. 

Anton DeFade Quintet

The Anton DeFade Quintet tackles classic soul, jazz and reimagined standards alongside vintage sounding originals. Expect some extended cuts from the Charlie Brown Christmas album and some soul jazz Christmas tunes. Quintet consists of Evan David on saxophone, JD Chaisson on trumpet, Jacob Pleakis on piano, Brian Wolfe on drums, and Anton DeFade on bass.

About Night 2:

Yacht Rocket

Put your holiday swim trunks on and sail away with Yacht Rocket as they present their smooth take on Christmas. Yacht Rocket is a vibrant & exciting 10-piece band celebrating the 70s & 80s genre “yacht rock.” For fans of the Doobies, Steely Dan, Toto, and the exhilaration of escape & everything smooth.

Check Your Bucket

Groove along to the old school funky sounds of Check Your Bucket.  The band plays mindfully arranged versions of rare funk and soul recordings from New Orleans (Lee Dorsey, Allen Toussaint, Eddie Bo) along with adaptations of pieces from more traditional New Orleans musical styles (Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Smokey Johnson). The band is dialed-in, funky, and dynamic, and the chemistry between the players is deep. 

J. Malls

D.J. set by J. Malls – Spinning rare and funky Christmas vinyl