I just released a holiday album, 10 Shades of Christmas, that offers new interpretations (“compelling” is the words used in the press release) of some of the world’s favorite Christmas carols. I thought it would be fun to reinvent carols by experimenting with their musical structure, harmony and rhythm. I was inspired by Tori Amos’ inventive holiday album Midwinter Graces, in which she intertwines traditional melodies with new material; by Vince Guaraldi’s classic A Charlie Brown Christmas; and by my collaborative effort with Andre Akinyele back in 2005, Gemini Soul’s A Cyber-Jazz Holiday. On that album, we gave a jazz twist to some standards, and the jazz influence is evident on 10 Shades of Christmas.
I chose nine traditional carols and one standard written back in the 20s, which I retitled and expanded with new music. The tracks are:
- Carol of the Bells
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- Jack Frost Is Coming to Town
- Joy to the World
- Deck The Halls
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- The First Noel
- What Child Is This (which itself is a repurposed ballad, Greensleeves)
- Silent Night
The tracks are arranged for piano accompanied by strings, horns, atmospheric sounds, and acoustic guitars. Andre helped shape a collection of holiday-themed songs that stand on their own musically, sonically and, if you close your eyes, even visually. I’m hoping that it just might become one of your favorite holiday albums for years to come. Check it out, and watch the short promo video:
