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In the Bleak Midwinter by Rodney Whitaker

From the album

Album Title: Cranbrook Christmas Jazz
Label: Origin Records
Released: 2021

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About the Album

Legendary bassist Rodney Whitaker has been a celebrated force in Michigan's jazz eco-system since returning to develop the world-class program at Michigan State University. Active with numerous jazz legacy institutions, Whitaker has spent five-years as Artist in Residence with the historic Christ Church Cranbrook near Detroit, where its wide-ranging arts and community offerings has afforded Whitaker and choir director Christopher Wells to collaborate, providing rich opportunities to bring together the worlds of jazz and traditional choir music. This recording documents their long-running Sacred Jazz Concerts and features preeminent jazz vocalist Vanessa Rubin, with Whitaker's sextet and the Church's choir, performing arrangements of hymns, Christmas favorites, and jazz standards of the season, including Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" and Vince Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here."

Tracks

Personent Hodie; The Christmas Song; In the Bleak Midwinter; We Three Kings; I Love the Winter Weather; Christmas Time is Here; Winter Wonderland; O Holy Night; A Child is Born; My Favorite Things; It’s Easy to Blame the Weather; Little Drummer Boy; Silent Night; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Personnel

Rodney Whitaker

bass

Rick Roe

piano

Michael Reed

drums

Vanessa Rubin

vocals

Timothy Blackmon

trumpet

Len'i McKinney

saxophone

Chris Glassman

trombone

Christopher Wells

composer / conductor

Additional Personnel

Rockelle Whitaker: Vocal (4, 12); Christopher McDole: Vocal (5, 11); Tom Shilakes: Vocal (3); Marc Meyers: Vocal (8); Kate Lucander: Vocal (13).

Reviews

Cranbrook Christmas Jazz by Troy Dostert

Date featured

December 24, 2020

This song appears by permission of the contributing artist and/or record company.
It is for personal use only; no other rights are granted or implied.

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