Pianist David Ian joins together with bassist Jon Estes and drummer Josh Hunt for a collection of clear and crystalline takes of Christmas carols. The team is dreamy for the tender moments of “Away In A Manger” and “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”, with a glorious flicker of candles for “O Com, O Come, Emmanuel”. No wild improvisations; this is music for thinking about the Reason for the season.
Nick Lowe, who once released an album entitled Jesus of Cool, now releases an album of songs focused around the King of Kings, although the mood is not exactly akin to Handel’s Messiah. He delivers a fun and kind of poppish read of “ Silent Night”, while revisiting Roy Wood’s charmer I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day” with innocent eyes. He’s a bit Dylanesque on his own “Christmas At The Airport” and riveting on “I Was Born In Bethlehem”, bringing back some country nostalgia with Roger Miller’s “Old Toy Trains” and a bit of rockabilly for “Children Go Where I Send Thee”. Songs for the Egg Nog crowd.