This collection of 11 Christmas carol/song arrangements by guitarist Joel Brown offers what used to be known as “musical stylings”, where familiar tunes were reimagined, ranging from ever-so-slightly schmaltzy treatment to complete revamping, where rhythms could be altered, syncopated, stretched, melodic ornamentation freely added, certain notes bent or scooped, and so forth. In other words, the arrangers and performers rendered a song in a new style of pop, blues, jazz, rock, cabaret, or some combination thereof. Often, this results in an agreeable, flavorful sound that gives a tune a happy alternate life, moving easily along and nestling comfortably in the background. Mostly that’s what Brown and his colleagues give us here–a disc that will suit the upbeat ambience of a holiday gathering or the relaxed spirit of a (more or less) mellow afternoon.
Some of the songs feature guitar only (or guitar duet), while others employ various other instruments, from harmonica to clarinet, to piano. Usually, the arrangements work: Joy to the world as a country dance is a bit over the top, but the group’s jazzy take on Santa Claus is Coming to Town is a kick, especially with the swinging clarinet and guitar solos, and the folky finger-pickin’ style of Jolly Old Saint Nicholas also proves engaging enough. Best, however, are Brown’s solo-guitar numbers, especially the properly atmospheric In the bleak mid-winter and fluid ostinato/arpeggios and imaginatively harmonized We Three Kings. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, scored here for guitar and cello, is delivered with a respectful faithfulness to the original–but when have you ever heard Good King Wenceslas as a blues number, complete with harmonica?
No, this is not a traditional Christmas program–but it’s got all the necessary ingredients, including joy, excitement, familiar tunes, and generous amounts of surprises. The musicians are all very fine–and obviously are enjoying themselves, and the guitar sound is wonderfully rich, warm, and full-bodied. The recording perspective may be a bit close for some listeners–there’s some very audible squeaking of fingers on strings on a few of the tracks–but the sound is exceptionally clear and vibrant and generally well-balanced (although I would have preferred less bass in Good King Wenceslas). Try this if you like your Christmas music to dance and swing, and occasionally just sweetly sing.
