Photo Flash: Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch in A SWINGING BIRDLAND CHRISTMAS

This past week, KLea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch brought holiday cheer to the iconic music room Birdland, with their "Swinging Birdland Christmas." For the third year in a row, the performers were accompanied by John Hart on guitar, Carmen Intorre on drums and Paul Gill on bass, along with special guest jazz violinist/comedian Aaron Weinstein.

In the tradition of seasonal TV specials of yore, Blackhurst, Caruso and Stritch performed swinging arrangements of "Christmas Waltz," Kay Thompson's "Holiday Season," "Sleigh Ride," and a "Jingle Bells" mashup, which contained many iconic musical arrangements of the holiday standard. There were also surprise ukulele and pocket cornet performances, as well as impressions of Elvis, Cher and Ethel Merman!

Photos by Stephen Sorokoff

KLea Blackhurst and Jim Caruso

KLea Blackhurst and Jim Caruso

KLea Blackhurst and Billy Stritch

Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch and KLea Blackhurst

Billy Stritch, KLea Blackhurst and Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch, KLea Blackhurst and Jim Caruso

Billy Stritch, KLea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Aaron Weinstein