Three stocking stuffers!
Famed session keyboardist David Garfield brings in a who’s who guest including Oz Noy/g, Pedro Eustache/fl, Lee Oskar/harm, Freddie Washington/b, Bob Mintzer/ts, Ernie Watts/ts and a boatload of vocalists on this festive mix of holiday cheer. You get Oskar and Noy giving a reggae’d read of “Chanokah Oh Chanuka” while Watts and vocalist Mike Finnigan are dreamy on “Heavenly Peace/Silent Night”. Amy Keys and Brandon Fields bring in a soulful “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” with Garfield in a richly reverent mood for “Ave Maria”. Warm fireplace moments.
Cozy teamings with tenor vocalist Jim Porcella and pianist Mike Renzi make for music as comfy and casual as a red cashmere sweater. Porcella is hep to Renzi’s boogie on “Cool Yule” and the two go Tin Pan Alley on “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm”. Renzi gives a saloon workout to “Blue Christmas” and the two are cozy on “Snowfall” and “The Holiday Song” while samba-ing on “Winter Wonderland”. Sounds of Egg Nog.
Simone Kopmajer sings in a wide variety of moods for Christmas, ranging from a Betty Boop a doop on “Santa Baby” to a cozy “White Christmas” and samba’d “Feliz Navidad”. Most interesting are her more Teutonic readings, giving a deeply church liturgy on “Leis Rieselt Der Schnee”, a deeply felt “Oh Heiland, Reiss Die Himmel Auf” and a mix of old and new worlds on “Silent Night/Stille Nacht”. Worldwide celebrations.