Damien Sneed & Friends Holiday Celebration
The Pocket130 West 46th Street, New York 10036
Damien Sneed brings his Damien Sneed & Friends Holiday Celebration to The Pocket on Christmas Eve. The bill presents Sneed with friends, though no individual guests or holiday-show lineup are listed. Expect a program shaped by an artist whose work moves among jazz, classical music, gospel, R&B and spirituals, with Sneed’s roles as pianist, vocalist, organist, composer, conductor and arranger all part of the breadth he brings to a live performance.
Sneed is a multi-genre musician, producer and educator whose work connects African American musical traditions with the classical canon. He has collaborated with Aretha Franklin, Jessye Norman, Wynton Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and J’Nai Bridges, and has served as music director for gospel artists including The Clark Sisters, Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and Kim Burrell. A Dove Award and NAACP Image Award winner, he founded and directs Chorale Le Chateau, an ensemble bringing classical, jazz, gospel, spirituals and contemporary music together. His credits include the world premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Abyssinian Mass with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Chorale Le Chateau, plus original operas and commissions from Houston Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
The Pocket offers a close-up encounter with world-class jazz musicians in a small, focused setting where every note feels immediate and unfiltered. The room is designed to bring listeners near the performers, creating a direct connection that makes the music feel personal and vivid. Seating is limited and arranged to emphasize attentive listening rather than casual socializing, with a bar available to complement the experience. Shows are ticketed, encouraging an audience that is there to fully engage with the performance. The venue’s location in Manhattan places it within easy reach of the city’s vibrant cultural pulse, making it a perfect spot for an evening dedicated to serious jazz appreciation without distractions.