Don’t stub your mistletoe…
Joyful toned vocalist and composer Patricia Vonne mixes genres on this wide ranging collection of Christmas Cheer. Things range from a traditional a cappella and lovely “Carol of the Bells” to some Link Wray-styled 50s rock on “Santa’s On A Rampage”. A dash of 80s punk and the Ronettes takes place on “Old Man Santa” and Vonne goes salsa with Ruben Blades on a percussive “Las Posadas” and “Cumbia Navidad” with Davide Perales’ gypsy violin. A stocking stuffer!
The husband/wife team of famed 70s guitarist Richie Blackmore and vocalist Candice Night deliver lovely folksy minstrel’d versions of classic Christmas tunes. Together with the tongue in cheek troupe of Bard David of Larchmont/key, Earl Gray of Chimay/g-g, Troubadour of Aberdeen/perc, Scarlet Fiddler/vi and lady Lynn/voc, traditional pieces such as the lovely take of “Coventry Carols”, a recorder rich “Deck The Halls” a couple takes of “We Three Kings” (one from a concert” and lovely guitar work on the lyrical and sublime “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”. Unlike most albums of the Nativity Season, this one as eternal and timeless qualities, with each of the 27 songs a little gift on the Advent Calendar.
Co leaders Benny Benack III on trumpet and vocals with pianist/conductor Steven Feifke lead a mix and match big band on a mix of Vegas meeting the Catskills for the Christmas and Chanukah Holidays. The Nelson Riddle’d sound of Benack’s “My Wish List” is a ¾ kitschly delight. Benack sounds like a poor man’s Bobby Darin as he Rat Packs through his fun and c lever “My Girlfriend Is An Elf” and is R&B ish on the tribal “Ma’Oz Tzur”. Feifke swings through “Sleigh Ride” and the team shuffles through the bluesy take of “The Dreidel Song”. Tidings of comfort and oy!
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