Richard
Williams (piano, arranger, producer); Trey Henry (bass); Bernie Tresel (drums)
+ various vocalists, saxophones, trumpets, trombones + strings & woodwinds of the Budapest Scoring Orchestra.
This is a bumper Christmas album lasting for one and a half hours, really good value for your Christmas party. More of a middle of the road feel rather than actual jazz, but some jazz elements crop up in the arrangements and spurts of saxophone and trombone, and some nifty drumming, for example on Santa Claus is Coming To Town.
The singing is pleasantly enjoyable, sometimes intimate as on White Christmas; sometimes skilful duets, or women singers in close harmony. The whole album is competently organised, with medleys of cheerful numbers interspersed with slower more serious songs such as Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. The whole is rounded off with a half hour instrumental play through of all the songs with just occasional fragments of singing. There is a mix of orchestral and big band sounds.
This all creates a sort of tapestry of Christmas in the USA, with more than one reference in the songs to pumpkin pie, and mentions of the USA states in There's No Place Like Home. Which isn't surprising as Richard Williams was born in Utah and grew up in California. He is a multi instrumentalist and composer who has worked with many genres of music.
The album is available everywhere. See www.richardmusic.com. Ann Alex
It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year; The Holiday Season; Happy Holiday; The Christmas Song; White Christmas; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; Rockin' Round The Christmas Tree; Here Comes Santa Claus; Jingle Bells; Frosty The Snowman; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; Winter Wonderland; Let It Snow; Up On The Housetop; (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Coming Home; Somewhere In My Memory; Someway, Somehow; plus instrumental versions of all songs.
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