Tidings of comfort and cheer
Now in its 15th season, Holiday Express is a traveling Christmas party, a from-the-heart troupe of musicians bringing music, friendship, help and hope to those often left out in the cold at this most special time of the year.

CHRIS KELLY staff Beth Ann Clayton, Middletown, performs during the 14th annual Holiday Express Concert and Town Lighting in downtown Red Bank Nov. 23.

Playing far from the limelight, in sometimes desperate circumstances, more than 70 Jersey Shore musicians volunteer to play more than 50 shows between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With several dozen support staff in tow, Holiday Express delivers not only music, but toys, clothing, food and fun to children with cancer, people living with AIDS, the mentally ill, disadvantaged families, the isolated elderly and the desperately homeless.

The annual benefit concert at the Count Basie Theatre is a significant source of support for the all-volunteer, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, and with more than 50 musicians and singers on the stage, playing everything from "White Christmas" to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (with the Grinch himself in attendance) to Chuck Berry's "Run, Run Rudolph," the annual benefit concert is an always sold-out season tradition in itself.

While the live music provided by the Holiday Express musicians enlivens the party, the organization brings muchneeded gift bags to each location visited. Each season, an estimated 15,000 gift bags are packed by warehouse volunteers to meet the needs of people at each location. The bags contain items such as coats, blankets, toiletries, socks and underwear.

Local residents can support Holiday Express by attending one of two benefit concerts of the Holiday Express Benefit Concert - at the Count Basie Theatre Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $100-$25 and are available at www.countbasietheatre. org.

The 2007 Holiday Express season of 56 shows began with the Nov. 23 Red Bank Concert and Town Lighting and continues, with local stops: Dec. 11, Children's Center of Monmouth County, Neptune; Dec. 12, CPC Behavioral Health, Aberdeen; Dec. 18, Ladacin Network, Wanamassa; Dec. 18, Harbor School, Eatontown; Dec. 18 and 20, Count Basie Theatre Christmas Show, Red Bank; Dec. 21, CVR, Eatontown; and Dec. 24, Trinity Church Soup Kitchen, Asbury Park.

For more information, contact Krista Newbert at (908) 489-1538 or e-mail kristanewbert@ comcast.net.