Photos by Andy Argyrakis

The jazz and swing revival of the late 1990s owes much of its boom to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who alongside acts such as The Brian Setzer Orchestra, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies and Chicago’s own Mighty Blue Kings, helped introduce a bygone era to a whole new generation.

From then until now, the Southern California players have sold millions of records and appeared in countless movies or TV programs, including opening the Super Bowl halftime show for Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan, tackling the theme song for “3rd Rock From The Sun” and guesting on “Dancing With The Stars.”

When the group brought its “Wild & Swingin’ Holiday Party” Tour to Pfeiffer Hall following a lengthy local absence, it was yet another example of the excellent company the North Central College Fine & Performing Arts season keeps, landing on a busy calendar between the likes of former teen idol Frankie Avalon and doo-wop dynasty The Drifters.

In the case of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, it was nothing but horn-saturated sounds straight out of “Swingers” meets Christmas of course, which made for a rousing, playfully carousing 90-minute night where the near capacity audience couldn’t resist lots of hand-clapping and toe-tapping.

That’s because the modern day big band of sorts breathed fresh life into not only seasonal selections off the “Everything You Want For Christmas” and “It Feels Like Christmas Time” collections, but also trademark renditions of both revivals and originals.

“Rock-A-Billy Christmas,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” and “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” were a few of the earlier festive notes, though Big Bad Voodoo Daddy soon dove into the general revelry of “You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby).”

Cab Calloway’s “Minnie The Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song)” and “Zig Zaggity Woop Woop” came close behind, plus a New Orleans-styled “Frosty The Snow Man” rolled its way towards “Christmastime In Tinsel Town.”

The alternating tones seamlessly continued thanks to “Mr. Pinstripe Suite” and “King Of Swing” into the newer “Christmas Is Starting Now,” Louis Armstrong’s “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?” and Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” with the twists and zings that only Big Bad Voodoo Daddy could bring on a North Central College crowd raring to “Go Daddy-O” long after the show.

For additional information on Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, visit BBVD.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at North Central College include DuPage Symphony Orchestra: “Holly Jolly Harmonies” (Dec. 17); Chicago Sinfonietta: “PULSE” (Jan. 14); “The Beat Goes On” starring Lisa McClowry as Cher (Jan. 27); DuPage Symphony Orchestra: “Reflections Of The Rus” (Feb. 11); The Drifters (Feb. 17); Jonathon Lynch’s “The Baroque Cycle” (Mar. 3); “HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis” starring Stephanie Courtney and Asad Mecci (Mar. 8); Chicago Sinfonietta: “ECHO” (Mar. 15); DuPage Symphony Orchestra: “Springtime Celebrations” (Mar. 17); Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes (Mar. 23); “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” (Apr. 6); “The Let’s Go Science Show” (Apr. 20); Chicago Sinfonietta: “REVERB” (May 10) and DuPage Symphony Orchestra: “Modern And Melodious” (May 18). For additional details, NorthCentralCollege.edu/Show.

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