Holiday “comfort music” in the form of seasonal favorites made famous by Irving Berlin, Glenn Miller, Leroy Anderson and others will fill the “Holiday Cheer & All That Jazz” concert offered by Purdue’s four jazz bands on Friday, Dec. 9.

The Purdue Jazz Band, American Music Repertory Ensemble, Lab Jazz Band and Concert Jazz Band all get spotlights at the free concert set for 8 p.m. in Loeb Playhouse of the Purdue Stewart Center.

Preceding the concert is “Tuba Christmas,” an annual event where tubists and euphonium players offer low brass versions of holiday tunes. The 30 minute show begins at 7 p.m. and will also take place in Loeb Playhouse. Admission is free.

From “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Have a Cool Yule” to “The First Noel” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” band director M.T. “Mo” Trout says Purdue’s jazz ensembles will present a true holiday “swingalong.”

“All the tunes on the concert have really been re-imagined in the swing style,” says Trout. “Some are big band swing while others are more contemporary. But they’re all still classic swing.”

Fans of the 1940s big band sound will particularly enjoy the “Glenn Miller Yuletide Medley” and “Jingle Bells” presented in the style of the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Christmas icons will be saluted with “Frosty the Snowman” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”

Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” and Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” are holiday classics on the program along with “Here We Come a Wassailing,” “The Christmas Song,” “Home for the Holidays,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Salutes to the winter season include “Button Up Your Overcoat” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”

Exploring other facets of the season, the Purdue Jazz Band will perform a “Hanukkah Medley” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve.” The Lab Jazz Band adds “Dreidle Samba.” The American Music Repertory Ensemble will play a Chet Bauch arrangement of “The Man with the Bag.” Bauch is a Purdue alum who went on to teach on The Ohio State University music faculty.

The whole evening’s designed to be carefree and family friendly. “By not charging admission, Purdue Bands has always thought of this concert as our gift to the community in a season where dollars never go as far as dreams,” says Bands publicist Kathy Matter.

Seating for the event is on a first-come basis with Loeb Playhouse opening up after the conclusion of Tuba Christmas. “Holiday Cheer” is the last jazz concert of the Purdue Bands & Orchestra fall 2011 season. For information on the January 2012 Purdue Jazz Festival and upcoming jazz events in 2011 visit www.purdue.edu/bands/jazzfest