The album opens with Big Al Carson and Academy Award-winning Lars Edegran, putting a big band twist on “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town.” Home-town favorite James Andrews summons up the spirit of New Orleans’ Christmas past, as the gravelly tones of his voice and trumpet evoke the raspy vocals of the great Louis Armstrong on “Christmas in New Orleans.”Other tunes get new twists as a bevy of notable musicians put their signature touches on the holiday classics: Ellis Marsalis tickles the ivories to bring new life into “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” while the internationally-known John Boutté dreams for snow to fall on the usually-warm city of his birth on his version of “White Christmas,” recorded especially for this collection.
Trumpeter and bandleader Gregg Stafford leads the Heritage Hall Jazz Band on this classic and understated rendition of “Silver Bells.”
Not to be forgotten, the new school of New Orleans music is also helping to get the jingle bells rockin’. The New Birth Brass Band performs “Santa’s Second Line,” while Ingrid Lucia, a recent settler in the New Orleans area, teases the chords and the man in red on the playful “’Zat You, Santa Claus?”
Papa Don Vappie, The Dukes of Dixieland, Banu Gibson, and Topsy Chapman round out this musical feast of holiday proportions as New Orleans Christmas hits stores on October 17.
Since Hurricane Katrina, Putumayo – which has an office in New Orleans – has been helping to revive and rebuild the musical culture of this celebrated city. In November of 2005, the label hosted the first Concert of Thanksgiving, a daylong free event for the relief workers and residents that featured some of New Orleans most beloved hometown musicians.
This holiday season, Putumayo will present a New Orleans Christmas CD release party at the Howlin’ Wolf on Saturday, November 18th. The concert will be recorded for a holiday special for NPR’s nationally syndicated Jazz Set with Dee Dee Bridgewater.
Putumayo will also broadcast a New Orleans Christmas special and spotlights for the Putumayo World Music Hour, heard internationally on 130 stations.
To date, Putumayo has donated over $200,000 of the proceeds from the sale of its New Orleans CD to local charities and non-profit organizations whose commitment to revitalization is helping restore the city to its former state. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of New Orleans Christmas will be donated to New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity in support of their Musicians’ Village Project.
Buy New Orleans Christmass.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
