Musical Egg Nog…
Chris Ruggiero brings a boy next door attitude on this well arranged collection of music for mistletoe. The band and orchestra is arranged deftly lby Charles Calello and Christian Tamburr, cozy on “Sleigh Ride” and intimate for “This Christmas”. There’s a 1970s feel on “Merry Christmas Darling” and a fun “Grown-Up Christmas List” to keep things fresh. The mix of originals and classics keeps things fresh and interesting, with jazzer Wayne Bergeron blowing a sweet horn on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. A nice stocking stuffer.
Warm toned vocalist Mary-Catherine Pazzano decorates the The Jazz Room in Waterloo, Ontario with Christmas cheer, backed by Mark Eisenman/p, Pat Collins/b, Steve James/dr and Jason Hunter/sax. She brings brooding enthusiasm to pieces such as “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” while shining brightly like a snow globe on “The Christmas Song” and a “Let It Snow!Let It Snow!Let It Snow/Snow” medley. She brings in some fresh material such as Joni Mitchell’s “River” and a glowing take of “A Child Is Born” as well as a rich read of “Manhattan In December”. Pleasing to the fans of Santa as well as the One born in Bethlehem.