Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Various Artists: The Reasons for Christmas Project

403

Various Artists: The Reasons for Christmas Project

By

Sign in to view read count
Various Artists: The Reasons for Christmas Project
The Poconos... honeymooners flock there in spring to bathe in heart-shaped tubs, families arrive in summer for a swim through glistening lakes, hikers arrive in the fall to see the changing leaves, and in the winter... Well, there's the skiing, the skating, the cuddling by the fire... and there's the area's burgeoning music community, which convened this year to create a delightful Christmas album, The Reasons For Christmas.

The project provided an opportunity for up and coming Poconos area musicians to appear on the same disc as legendary figures like saxophonist Phil Woods, and pianist John Coates Jr., and best of all, proceeds raised from the sale of the album benefit a worthy cause: the Pocono Area Transitional Housing (PATH), a local organization that provides support to homeless families with children.

Holiday brawls around the CD player might diminish a bit with this disc. It features an array of styles. There's swinging ragtime on "Good King Wenceslas," performed by the Gap Time Ensemble; 17th Century sounds on "Pastoral," a Wolfgang Knittle arrangement based on "Joy To The World"; and light rock rhythms with violin highlights on Bobby Syvarth's "An Extra Prayer," which inspired the creation of the album.

Seven of the eleven songs are originals. Bob Dorough sings and plays piano on his tune "Wouldn't It Be Wonderful If Christmas Came," a smiley carol heralding peace on earth. It features an ebullient choir of local students in addition to an eleven-piece band. Spencer and Nancy Reed harmonize with each other, later scatting on Woods' harrowing, prophetic song "Gifts For The Children," backed by intimately sparse guitar and bass.

The classic Christmas tunes are real treats. With a nostalgic intro that leaps into a snappy verse, Phil Woods' arrangement of "White Christmas" is perfect for settling down and putting the finishing touches on the tree. And the David Liebman Group's take on "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" will surely leave the embers glowing in the fire well past Christmas dinner.

Track Listing

"Wouldn't It Be Wonderful If Christmas Came" - Bob Dorough; "White Christmas" - Phil Woods; "On Christmas Day" - Jesse Green & Jerry Harris; "Silent Night" - John Coates, Jr.; "A Little Prayer" - Bobby Syvarth; "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - The David Liebman Group; "Let's Make Each Day Like Christmas" - Vicki & Eric Doney Band; "Gifts For The Children" - Nancy Reed & Spencer Reed; "Good King Wenceslas" - The Gaptime Ensemble; "Waiting For Christmas" - Gary Dillon; "Pastoral" - Calliope & The Water Gap Brass

Personnel

Album information

Title: The Reasons for Christmas Project | Year Released: 2003 | Record Label: Independent Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.