[East Chicago, IN] - La Befana Records announced today the launch of a new 68-minute Christmas CD Jazz Album entitled, Tidings of Comfort and Joy: A Jazz Piano Trio Christmas by Skafish. The La Befana label is Skafish's own. Two-minute soundbites of each of 13 tracks of the album can be heard at: www.skafishchristmas.com. The Tidings CD is available at CD Baby and Amazon.

In Tidings, Skafish begins each track with an original musical introduction, followed by a recognizable melody with stepped-up altered harmonies, ending with a completely unique and improvised inventive rendition. Each piece is transformed into a new and singular original jazz composition.

“SKAFISH" (Jim Skafish) was the originator and Godfather of Chicago's Punk, New Wave, Alternative and Indie Rock movements in the 1970's and 1980's. He also co-created these genres on a worldwide level.

Skafish leaped onto the musical scene in February, 1976, the first Chicago artist/pioneer of these musical genres to appear in places like CBGB's in New York in 1977; The Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles in February 1978; and in London in 1980 before a sell-out mass audience together with The Police, UB-40 and Squeeze. He also toured with such groups as Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Police and U-2.

Now, a generation later, Skafish, otherwise known as Jim Skafish, comes to Jazz, transforming traditional Christmas melodies into altered harmonies, unique rhythmical structures and stylized improvisations. In Tidings, a dynamic trio of piano, bass and drums arranged and delivered in uplifting, spirited, innovative ways, Skafish has created one-of-a-kind new and bonafide jazz compositions - from swing to progressive fusion...the sound of thirteen Yuletide favorites that are also pure jazz and purely, singularly unique.

On the La Befana Record label, a new company owned and recently launched by Skafish himself, and dedicated to new Christmas jazz releases, the composer/pianist was encouraged to launch a Christmas jazz album and company dedicated to jazz by his colleague and close confidante since 1979, Glinda Harrison.

Regarded as a child prodigy and musical genius by his blind piano teacher at age six, Skafish's earliest compositions were instrumental jazz. In high school, he formed the Jim Skafish Group, a jazz trio, while also studying with international jazz legend Willie Pickens at Chicago's American Conservatory.

As his improvisational skills on the piano grew exponentially over the years, some of the musical greats who commented on his talent included jazz legend Stan Kenton, who called him “a genius" after hearing one of his original rock song demo tapes; to blues master Willie Dixon who referred to Skafish as “the best musician I know;" to the peerless Muddy Waters who was quoted in a 1981 UPI news story as saying, “When Jim Skafish walks into the room, I could swear it was Mick Jagger."

Skafish was a pioneer perhaps decades ahead of his time. Recognized by the greats of jazz and rock as a musical giant, he turned to his virtuoso as a pianist beginning in 1983, teaching privately and performing gigs anywhere and everywhere. He's a teacher until today, and loves to inspire young musicians to find their own voice and rhythm in music.

His performing gigs included playing private Christmas parties as a solo pianist. Improvisation had come second nature to him since childhood, and improvising on-the-spot jazz arrangements of Christmas carols evoked an overwhelming response among all who heard and witnessed this feat.

The Tidings album roughly divides into three parts. The first part comprises five tracks (Joy to the World, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, and Silent Night) designed to put the listener into the Christmas mood with upbeat festive fare, ambience and elegance. The second part of five tracks (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Come O Come Emmanuel, What Child Is This?, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Away In A Manger) represents a deepening and growth of musical complexity, with more altered harmonies, extended improvisation, complex arrangements and deeper emotional exploration.

The finale section is three tracks starting with the first and longest piece (We Three Kings Fusion) pushing the boundaries of improvisation the furthest, followed by the second track (God Rest ye Merry Gents) designed to be an all out finale showstopper. The third and final arrangement of the album (Jingle Bells) is a curtain call and reprise, bringing the record full circle, back to the joy and fun with which it began.

“La Befana," the name of Skafish's record company, was named after the witch who ancient legend says bears gifts to children on January 6th, the Day of the Magi, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. In fact, Befana's name comes from the Greek word “epifania" or “epiphany." It is a belief upheld until this day in Italy, and La Befana is embraced in the hearts and minds of Italian children and their families even more than Santa Claus.

In honor of his half Italian ancestry, Jim Skafish gave his new record label the La Befana name “to deliver the gift of the most entertaining and leading-edge Christmas musical arrangements for the listening delight of our audience." Skafish also draws a parallel between the image of La Befana and his own, given the character's prodigious nose and large feet, but goodhearted and benevolent nature.