This is the latest album from Austrian singer Simone Kopmajer, who has been singing since she was a child. Her musical training was in Gratz, where she encountered performers such as Mark Murphy and Sheila Jordan. The album, recorded in the USA, consists of Christmas songs which are generally known, songs in German which I guess will be familiar in Austria, and at least one original written by Ms Kopmajer The Most Wonderful Time.
Most of the songs are done with the standard jazz combo of piano, bass, and drums plus saxes, with the occasional track of big band sound. The vocals are very pleasing with clear words and the instrumentalists are more than competent.
No doubt the album was produced in good faith perhaps in anticipation of the pandemic being over by Christmas, but alas... So some of the songs have a hollow feel, notably the singer's lyrics to The Most Wonderful Time, in such lines as 'Oh – most wonderful time of year, Oh the magic you feel here in the air.' And I found myself wishing for something more appropriate and/or original than the standard Christmas songs such as Jingle Bells.
Some tracks did stand out from the usual, such as Driving Home For Christmas, with the sax sounding a bit like a car horn; Feliz Navidad had a Latin beat with the typical 'chock chock' on the drums; My Grown-Up Christmas List was a plea to end all wars and troubles.
To sum up: very pleasant but nothing really noteworthy.
Ann Alex
Santa
Baby; Jingle Bells; Leise Rieselt Der Schnee; Baby It's Cold Outside; Christmas
Time Is Here; The Most Wonderful Time; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas;
Es Wird Scho Glei Dumpa; Driving Home For Christmas; The Christmas Song; Feliz
Navidad; My Grown-Up Chrisitmas List; White Christmas; Oh Hieland Reiss Die
Himmel Auf; Is Finsta Drausst; Silent Night.
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