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Kurt Elling: The Beautiful Day
ByFor his first Christmas album, Elling does what he does best, embracing the art of possibility and enriching the topic(s) at hand with sophistication and sincerity. That's clear from the very first, as he quickly tips his hat to a bevy of Christmas favorites (in forty-five seconds) before leaving them behind for the cheery "Sing A Christmas Carol"one of three selections here that were plucked from Leslie Bricusse's score for the 1970 film musical Scrooge. It's a merry introduction to what turns out to be one of the most gratifying holiday albums to emerge in years.
While Elling's programming savvy likely led to his decision to open in such an upbeat realm, his roaming artistic ear keeps him from staying put there. On first departure he creates a spectral bodya hazy sound painting, if you willbased on "Good King Wenceslaus." It's the first of three such variations that appear throughout the album. He then moves into a pensive state for a brief and extremely moving take on Terre Roche's "Star Of Wonder," delivers a powerful and mesmerizing take on "We Three Kings" that owes as much to his band's performance as it does to his own delivery, and takes a sly swinging stroll through Bricusse's "Christmas Children."
An easy waltzing "Some Children See," a swampy "Little Drummer Boy," further reflections on "Good King Wenceslaus," a marriage of Elling's lyrics and Edvard Grieg's music, and a smartly-rendered take on Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne" follow, further illustrating how one man's voice and personality can serve as the ties that bind seemingly dissimilar material. Elling's collaboratorsmost notably, pianist Stu Mindeman, guitarist John McLean, bassist Clark Sommers, drummer Kendrick Scott, and saxophonist Jim Gailloretoalso work wonders in bringing everything together harmoniously under one roof.
Elling remains a man of poetry, passion, and purpose here, regardless of whether he's giving a soulful nod to Donny Hathaway, investing himself in the music of John Hollenbeck and the words of Kenneth Patchen, wishing and dreaming through a vocal duet with his daughter, or visiting any manner of other people and places. This album is truly a breath of fresh wintry air.
Track Listing
Sing A Christmas Carol; Wenceslaus (Image I); Star Of Wonder; We Three Kings; Christmas Children; Wenceslaus (Image II); Some Children See Him; Little Drummer Boy; Wenceslaus (Image III); The Michigan Farm (Cradle Song, Op. 41/1; The Snow Is Deep On The Ground/Snowfall; Same Old Lang Syne; This Christmas; The Beautiful Day.
Personnel
Kurt Elling
vocalsKurt Elling: vocals, percussion; John McLean: acoustic guitars, electric guitars; Stuart Mindeman: piano, electric keyboards, Hammond B-3; Clark Sommers: bass; Jill Kaeding: cello; Jim Gailloreto: soprano saxophone; Tito Carrillo: trumpet; Kendrick Scott: drums; Kalyan Pathak: percussion; Luiza Elling: vocals.
Album information
Title: The Beautiful Day | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Okeh