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Nils Landgren: Christmas With My Friends IV
ByUnlike volume III, recorded at live concerts, Christmas With My Friends IV is a studio album (the album sleeve gives the recording dates as December 17-19 2014 but as the review copy arrived in November 2014 let's assume that the dates were actually in 2013).
Landgren's friends are the same group of seven that's appeared on previous albums in the series. The full line-up only appears on three songs: most of the tracks are performed by smaller combos. Johan Norberg's "Icicles," which he performs solo on the kantele (a Finnish instrument akin to the dulcimer), is a sweet and pretty tune, evoking the chill of winter but also the emotional warmth of Christmas. The duo of Ida Sand and Norberg perform the evocative "In The Bleak Midwinter," Sand adding glockenspiel to Norberg's acoustic guitar.
Odetta's "If Anybody Ask You" brings a touch of gospel to the proceedings. Sharon Dyall sings and adds punchy harmonica, Eva Kruse's swinging bass drives the rhythm. Kruse is also at the heart of a swinging, funky "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"an instrumental duet with Landgren's trombone. "The First Noel," "O Helga Natt" and "O Du Saliga / O Du Fröhliche"the three songs which feature all eight performersare notable for the beautiful blend of voices and for the saxophone playing of the relatively under-used Jonas Knuttson.
The exceptions to the general rule work in this context because Landgren and friends give something of a makeover to them both. The message of "What A Wonderful World" fits the Christmas spirit even if references to rainbows, blue skies and green trees aren't so traditional. Jessica Pilnas sings beautifully, Norberg plays out a 2/4 rhythm on his acoustic guitar and Landgren's throaty trombone gives it an extra spark. George Michael's "Last Christmas," on the other hand, mentions Christmas repeatedly but the narrative of a broken love affair is off-topic. Landgren's fragile, delicate, vocalaccompanied once again by the excellent Norberghighlights the sadness and the hopefulness of the lyric.
Christmas With My Friends IV is an intimate, beautiful, collection of traditional, religious and popular Christmas songs. Landgren shows no sign of running out of material and Volume V will hopefully arrive in the near futurewhat are the chances of a Landgren and Friends version of "Fairytale Of New York"?
Track Listing
I Wish It Was Christmas; The First Noel; Come Sunday; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; What A Wonderful World; Angel's Carol; Last Christmas; If Anybody Ask You; Icicles; Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging; In The Bleak Midwinter; Who Would Imagine A King; Det Brinner En Stjärna; O Helga Natt; O Du Saliga / O Du Fröhliche.
Personnel
Nils Landgren
tromboneNils Landgren: trombone, vocals; Sharon Dyall: vocals and harmonica; Jonas Knutsson: baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone; Johan Norberg: guitar, kantele; Eva Kruse: bass; Ida Sand: vocals, piano, glockenspiel; Jeanette Köhn: vocals; Jessica Pilnäs: vocals.
Album information
Title: Christmas With My Friends IV | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: ACT Music