The Christmas Album (S-Curve)
Leslie Odom Jr.
Released in 2020
Jazziz Holiday Jazz Favorites
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kwMBLSGZQiNYvpkZd9wvDpx74Fasl08t8
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3dtH58hWKPjBEiKXRs69PJ?si=Yw46WbN-TWCsncpeQeoyqQ
About:
Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, author and actor Leslie Odom, Jr. drops his brand-new holiday album, The Christmas Album, via S-Curve Records/BMG. The 10-track album features a collection of beloved traditional favorites together with newly penned, original tracks “Snow” and “Heaven & Earth” that are sure to become instant holiday classics for years to come.
On The Christmas Album, Leslie reimagines timeless holiday hits including “Last Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” and more. Coinciding with the album announce, Leslie celebrated Christmas early with the release of “Winter Song” featuring Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner Cynthia Erivo, which showcases both artists’ unparalleled talent. The album also features Leslie’s version of the Christmas classic, “Little Drummer Boy,” performed with the Mzansi Youth Choir, who offer a beautiful, youthful sound, providing a unique blend of energy, spirit, and devotion to South African music.
Broadway star, singer, actress, and Leslie’s wife, Nicolette Robinson, joins him on a traditional Chanukah song, “Ma’oz Tzur,” which pays homage to their own diverse, extended family coming together around the holiday season. By including a few non-Christmas songs on the album, Leslie’s goal was to spread the message of inclusion, stressing how important it is to respect and celebrate our differences, now more than ever.
Of the album, Leslie shares, “Man lemme tell you…we sang our hearts on this album. We needed to. I believe you’ll hear it and feel it when you listen.” The Christmas Album marks Leslie’s second holiday album following Simply Christmas, which he re-released in winter 2017 as a deluxe edition in winter with new arrangements and new songs. The holiday album hit #1 on iTunes and Billboard Jazz Charts. The Christmas Album follows Mr., Leslie’s third album and first of all-original material, released in November 2019. Most recently, he teamed up with nine-time Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist Sia to debut a re-recorded, new version of standout track “Cold”.
Track Listing:
1. Snow (Joseph Abate / Rafael Casal / Theron Feemster / Leslie Odom, Jr. / Sebastian Kole / Kyle Mann) 03:17
2. Last Christmas (George Michael) 03:31
3. Little Drummer Boy (Katherine K. Davis / Henry Onorati / Harry Simeone) 03:23
4. Winter Song (Sara Bareilles / Ingrid Michaelson) 03:44
5. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Meredith Willson) 03:44
6. O Holy Night (Traditional) 02:48
7. Ma’oz Tzur (Public Domain) 03:51
8. Mele Kalikimaka (Robert Alexander Anderson) 02:53
9. Auld Lang Syne (Traditional) 01:44
10. Heaven & Earth (Rafael Casal / Paul Duncan / Theron Feemster / Leslie Odom, Jr.) 03:29
Personnel:
Leslie Odom: vocals
Trevor Lawrence: drums
Doug Livingston: steel guitar
Tim Lefebvre: bass
David Parks: bass
Andrew Synowiec: ukulele
Tommy King: piano
Theron Feemster: vibes
Steven Walker: guitar
Mischke: background vocals
Kyle Mann: background vocals
Sebastian Kole: background vocals
Sidumo Nyamezele: choir director
Produced by Theron “Neff-U” Feemster and Joseph Abate
Sound Engineers: Kyle Mann, Paul Redel, Jordan Purvis, Andrew O’Halloran, Ruairi O’Flaherty, Tyrone Belle, Cory Washington
Review:
Leslie Odom Jr. is a phenomenal artist, known among other things for his role in Broadway sensation Hamilton, as well as a great vocalist whose roots are in jazz, soul and R&B. His new Christmas album shows he has the chops and is definitely a showcase for his versatility. It also gets bonus points for including rarely heard tracks, including the Hannukah song “Ma’oz Tzur,” the Hawaiian-themed Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka” and even the traditional New Year’s Eve theme, “Auld Lang Syne.”
Matt Micucci (Jazziz)
