Jason Klobnak: Hark The Herald

Sleigh bells, synths, slick layers of sound, and a forthright trumpet are making seasons bright here. Colorado-based trumpeter Jason Klobnak dips his toe into Christmas music with a contemporary spin on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" that's both fun and ripe. It's a work that's seriously produced but lighthearted in tone.

While Klobnak's recordings thus far have focused on quintet-based dynamics, he moves in a new direction for this one-off holiday single. It only took three men to create the music for this track—Klobnak on trumpet, James Roberson on keyboards and drums, and Nathaniel Kearney, Jr. on bass—but it speaks as if made by a slightly bigger band. It's a pop-glazed production with funky undertones. Klobnak's horn sings loud and clear on the melody over a rock groove enhanced by little jabs that evolves into a half-time feel before cycling back around, he adds muted trumpet work as another color in the mix, and he blows a bit to keep things honest on the jazz end.

Roberson's keys provide the primary color/style scheme for this arrangement—bright shades that are hip and urbane in nature—while Kearney holds the bottom together in unobtrusive fashion. All three men are well-matched in terms of style and conception. "Hark The Herald" is simply a sweet holiday treat that goes down quick and easy.