We might be a little over a month away from Christmas, but there's no time like the present to begin amassing some new holiday releases to play alongside those trusty old classics. Over the past few years, many acts in the metal, prog, jazz, and pop spectrum have released holiday platters to varying degrees of success, but this one from legendary jazz pianist Carla Bley, titled Carla's Christmas Carols (WATT/ECM Records), is a warm, charming, and soothing joy from beginning to end. Carla's been a true jazz treasure for decades, and this collection of holiday classics and gorgeous originals adds another notch to her already impressive resume. Alongside Bley for this batch of recordings are her musical partner in crime, the equally legendary bassist Steve Swallow, and the Partyka Brass Quintet, which is comprised of Tobias Weidinger (trumpet, flugelhorn, glockenspiel), Axel Schlosser (trumpet, flugelhorn, chimes), Christine Chapman (horn), Adrian Mears (trombone), and Ed Partyka (bass trombone, tuba).
As there are no drums or percussion (save for some chimes in spots), this is a very spacious sounding album, with the horns more often than not creating the melodies and taking the lead spots. There's plenty of highlights, among them, the magical "O Tannenbaum", complete with soaring trumpet & trombone melodies, the delicate "Away in a Manger", featuring Bley's gentle piano touch and a silky bass solo from Swallow, the sultry & smooth "The Christmas Song" (you could almost swear Miles Davis was in on this one), the haunting 'Ring Christmas Bells", with its dueling trumpet, trombone, and flugelhorn, and the sweet jazzy sounds of the two-part "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen".
Of the Bley originals, "Hell's Bells" is a snappy, upbeat jazz number, Carla's intricate piano vamps in synch with Swallow's walking bass lines while smoky trumpet solos permeate the mix, and "Jesus Maria" is an intoxicating number, perfect for relaxing in front of the fire as you sip your hot toddy and gaze upon your dim lit living room with the fireplace ablaze and the Christmas tree sparkling with lights and tinsel. The most heart-wrenching piece on the CD is the emotional "O Holy Night", an extended romp that will bring a tear to your eye in anticipation of the holiday season. Here, Swallow's lead bass lines almost take on the sound of a guitar, and Bley's magical piano provide the perfect accompaniment.
Though Carla's Christmas Carols might not be upbeat enough for those who like their holiday music bombastic and with vocals, for others this will be a perfect album to slip on while the family is sitting down to delicious Christmas dinner, or while sitting by the fireplace with your favorite beverage and loved one as the little white flakes fall outside.
Magical stuff, thank you Carla!
Track Listing
1. O Tannenbaum
2. Away In A Manger
3. The Christmas Song
4. Ring Christmas Bells
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Part One
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Part two
7. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
8. Hell's Bells
9. Jesus Maria
10. Jingle Bells
11. O Holy Night
12. Joy To The World
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