Jazz Styled Christmas
Posted November 24, 2015
By DwayneLacy_NRT, Staff Reviewer
It is the time of the year again when Christmas music is playing in department stores as people go about their shopping. Vernon Hill brings a jazz-infused outfit into the mix with Great Joy. This pianists pays homage to songs of Christmas with an album that is half instrumental and half includes vocals.
When it comes to songs of Christmas, there are just some songs that every artist must try out. "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" gets an easy listening interpretation with the piano and soprano sax taking the forefront. You can put this on in the background of a company Christmas party or a family get together to celebrate the holidays. Vernon is joined again by Tim Andrulonis on "Silent Night" for a version slightly more up-tempo than most renditions.
The vocalists that were picked for this offering did a great job with their selections. Lavarn crooned his way through "Emmanuel" while Taylor Simone-Butts adds her smooth vocals to "Noel." She lets her range show a little when she works the chorus of "Glory to God."
There are those who are traditional when it comes to Christmas songs, taking the stance that you shouldn't remix it or add a rock or hip hop flavor and mess with a classic. For those listeners, Vernon tickles the ivories throughout "Holy Night," and yet he stays true to the original melody and structure of the song.
Closing Thoughts:
We have heard so many variations of the popular Christmas songs, both the ones that are sung in church settings and those that are not. Vernon Hill was not very radical in the way he arranged these songs, but it is something that contemporary jazz enthusiasts will enjoy.
Song to Download Now:
"Glory to God" (Get it on iTunes here.)
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