Don’t begrudge saxist/vocalist Jessy for putting out a Christmas album that reflects sunny California weather. The time of our savior’s birth in Bethlehem was probably quite similar to a day in Southern California!
She mixes traditional Christmas tunes that celebrate both the season and the Reason for the season. There’s a hip R&B “Silent Night” with a B3 beind Maurice Smiths’ singing, Paul Brown’s guitar and Jessy’s meaty tenor. A fun salsa take of “Feliz Navid/Home for the Holidays’ has Jessy singing, playing tenor and creating snowflakes on the flue, as the team gets funk on”The First Noel.” Steve Oliver’s lovely plucking on “Jesu , J Oyof Man’s Desiring” teams well with Jessy’s flute and the angels are dancing during “Joy to the World” with Jeff Lorber playing everything but the heavenly host harps. A celebration of the right things.