Jane Lynch Jazzes up the Holidays with ‘A Swingin’ Little Christmas’

Famed for her roles as Sue Sylvester in Glee and Miss Hannigan on Broadway in Annie, Jane Lynch is delivering her Emmy and Golden Globe Award–winning talents to the San Diego stage this month. Ahead of the live performance of her holiday album, A Swingin’ Little Christmas, we caught up with Lynch for a quick call about some of the highlights.

Released in 2016 and featuring Kate Flannery (Meredith of The Office) and Tim Davis (vocal arranger for Glee) with instrumentals from the Tony Guerrero Quintet, A Swingin’ Little Christmas comprises jazzed-up versions of 10 classic seasonal songs and five original scores.

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Fusing jazz instrumentals with yuletide carols, Lynch explains, made sense given the performers’ shared affections.

“That’s how Tony’s band plays,” she says. “That’s their greatest love. For Tim, Kate, and me, that’s our greatest love, too.”

And while it’s the first year the Swingin’ Little Christmas artists are touring for this album, it’s not their first time collaborating. Two years ago, they produced a cabaret-style comedy show, See Jane Sing. It’s clear that Lynch has a soft spot for holiday music—she even released a duet with Dick Van Dyke, “We’re Going Caroling,” earlier this fall.

About the San Diego show, Lynch chimes, “We’re going to get in a lovely Christmas mood. And, with Kate, there will be shenanigans.”

See It!

A Swingin’ Little Christmas

December 16

California Center for the Arts

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido

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Jane Lynch Jazzes up the Holidays with ‘A Swingin’ Little Christmas’

Photo by Matthew Staver