Trombonist Big Sam Williams will host a holiday jam at New Orleans’ Blue Nile on the evening of December 25. In addition to the Funky Nation leader, the Christmas Day jam will feature piano virtuoso Jonathan Batiste, “The King of Nouveau Swing” saxophonist Donald Harrison, Dirty Dozen Brass Band drummer Terence Higgins and bassist Calvin Turner, the latter of whom is known for his wok with Raphael Saadiq and the Marc Broussard Band. Other guests are expected.

Big Sam’s Funky Nation will close the year with a performance at Slidell, LA’s Slidell Memorial Hospital on December 31. The show will benefit the Slidell Memorial Hospital Cancer Center.