Playing piano and singing, Laila Biali creates a Christmas Suite of sorts on this album, not rehashing classic Christmas tunes independently, but composing her own to create a stocking stuffer of songs that bring in a string quartet, chamber orchestra and working team of George Koller/b, Ben Wittman/dr along with guests Jane Bunnett/fl-ss, Lori Gemmell/harp and Kevin Turcotte/tp.
There are lush moments of joy as on “Outside” and “Snow” with ethereal snowflakes dancing on “Drifting Down Ice” and the gentle “Rocky Mountain Lullaby”. Modern celebrations close out the album with a graceful “Jesus, He Is Born” that mixes tradition with musical modernity. Fresh chestnuts.