Groovin' Jazz Christmas

It’s a smooth jazz Christmas. Most of this program is exactly what you’d expect: sax lead, programmed backgrounds and drum loops, lightweight improvisations (although Doc Powell’s guitar on “Let It Snow” is appealing). The first eight songs stay close to the formula, and it’s pretty predictable, mechanical, and at times downright sterile. But whoever sequenced the CD saved the best for last; the final three songs are the most rewarding of the lot. “Christmas Eve”, the only original on the program, is a nice addition to the holiday repertoire, and Billy Valentine provides a warm, friendly vocal. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” sways happily in 6/8 time, with occasional shifted accents – it’s a nice arrangement. Kathleen Bertrand’s rich gospel vocal on “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”, backed by piano and synth strings, is a complete departure for the smooth jazz that permeates the rest of this CD, and a nice way to close the disc.

Track listing: Winter Wonderland (Jeff Lorber); Let It Snow (Doc Powell); Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Eddie M); The Christmas Song (Michael Lington); Feliz Navidad (Jango); I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Soul Ballet); Carol of the Bells (Michael Sims); Do You Hear What I Hear? (Chris Camozzi); Christmas Eve (Garden Party featuring Billy Valentine); It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Steve Nieves); Oh Come All Ye Faithful (Kathleen Bertrand).

Personnel: (in addition to the featured performers listed above) Patrick Lamb – tenor sax; Steve LeGassick – keyboards and bass; Mike Sims – guitar, drum programming; Dave Beyer – drums and percussion; Paula Galitano, Ray Kenetsky – keyboards; Jervonny (JV) Collier – bass; Ray Campanella III – drum programming; George Shelby – soprano sax; Scott Fuller – keyboards, synth bass, drum loops; Phil Davis – piano and string arrangement.