Mads Tolling & Adam Klipple: Cool Yule

Danish-American violinist, composer and two-time Grammy Award-winner Mads Tolling is a former member of the Turtle Island Quartet and The Stanley Clarke Band. As a current member of Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Mads appears on three albums and has performed at over a hundred concerts. Mads has been commissioned to write two violin concertos, which he has performed in the US and Japan. He now leads his own bands with several international tours.

Tonight, Mads will perform music from his recent album Cool Yule, which is currently on the ballot of first round of Grammy voting. The wonderful Christmas traditions of the Nordic countries—Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland—are steeped in mysticism with many of these traditions at home here in America. We invite you to experience the warmth and specialness of hygge, the Danish word for cozy that sets the tone for ushering in the holiday season.

In the spirit of Yule, Mads shares the Christmas celebrations of his youth in Copenhagen, blending the authentic customs and sounds of the Nordic countries with the joy and spirit of American jazz.

Cool Yule includes a special nod to Denmark’s famous fairy-tale author Hans Christian Andersen, a salute to Julemanden (Santa Claus), Nordic Yuletide traditional classics and jazz renditions of your favorite American holiday songs, including “Santa Baby,” “My Favorite Things” and “The Christmas Song.”

Joining Mads this evening is the renowned pianist, Adam Klipple, who currently performs and records with Veronica Swift, and is a member of the legendary jazz-rock band Blood Sweat & Tears.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Children under 12 are free. Advance tickets are available here, or if the show is not sold out, you may purchase your tickets at the door before the show.

Doors open one half hour before show time. We accept cash or Venmo only at the door.

The Back Room is an all-ages, BYOB (for those 21+) space, dedicated to (mostly) acoustic music of all kinds. You are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. The venue is ADA accessible. If you need more information or have any questions, please call us: #510-381-1997.

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Please note: Although masks are no longer required, we strongly encourage their use to keep everyone safe in our intimate space.

Host or Publisher Sam Rudin