The Pianoman at Christmas – The Complete Edition (Blue Note)
Jamie Cullum
Released in 2021
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nmqRSRwO5IUQKeooM2a6pzJakVvJXE9p0
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6N2F5snTp3TZlsYZhf4qFG?si=qk4gy4voQIu68VIjfuAPiQ
About:
Singer, songwriter, and pianist Jamie Cullum has announced The Pianoman At Christmas – The Complete Edition, a deluxe repack of his 2020 holiday album which was out Nov. 19. The new release completes last year’s part 1 with a thoroughly enjoyable 13-track part 2 that features 11 covers of classic Christmas songs, as well as 2 festive original songs including the lead single “Christmas Don’t Let Me Down,” which is out now.
The Complete Edition sees Jamie team up with London innovators Kansas Smitty’s, composer and producer The Vernon Spring, and LA-based singer Lady Blackbird to complete a piece of work that is imbued with seasonal sophistication. Alongside his two original tracks, Jamie breathes new life into classics such as “Winter Wonderland,” “Silent Night,” “Frosty The Snowman,” and “Sleigh Ride.”
“So much of the Christmas music we all love is stuffed full of all the things I am really drawn to in songs,” says Cullum. “Our ears seem ready from December onwards for big bands, huge orchestras, beautiful chord changes and focused, timeless lyrics. It is a world of classic songwriting that I have been operating in since the beginning of my career. So I set myself the task to try and write ten, original Christmas songs that used these skills and obsessions to create something uncynical and adventurous, full of the joys and complexities of the season, that could be something you feel like reaching for every year. I have been so lucky that every corner of this record has been touched by the world’s best – from the legendary Studio 2 at Abbey Road, to the engineers, the arrangers, the producer and mixer. I hope the care, attention to detail and sheer joy that we put into this record will bring a little magic this Christmas.”
Track Listing:
Part 1:
1. It’s Christmas (Jamie Cullum) 03:14
2. Beautiful, Altogether (Jamie Cullum) 03:32
3. Hang Your Lights (Jamie Cullum) 04:55
4. The Jolly Fat Man (Jamie Cullum) 03:04
5. The Pianoman at Christmas (Jamie Cullum) 04:35
6. Turn On the Lights (Jamie Cullum) 04:15
7. So Many Santas (Jamie Cullum) 03:29
8. Christmas Never Gets Old (Jamie Cullum) 02:44
9. How Do You Fly? (Jamie Cullum) 05:59
10. Christmas Caught Me Crying (Jamie Cullum) 03:17
11. In The Bleak Midwinter (Christina Rosetti / Gustav Holst) 4:38
Part 2:
12. Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard / Dick Smith) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 2:39
13. I Believe In Father Christmas (Greg Lake / Peter Sinfield / Serge Sares Prokofief) 3:50
14. Man With The Bag (Irving Taylor / Dudley Brooks / Hal Stanley) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 2:54
15. Christmas Don’t Let Me Down (Jamie Cullum) 3:20
16. Sleigh Ride (Adam Klemens / Kevin Laliberté / Chris McKhool) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 2:21
17. Amazing Grace (Traditional / Sam Beste / Jamie Cullum) feat. The Vernon Spring 3:02
17. This Winter (Jamie Cullum) feat. Lady Blackbird and Kansas Smitty’s 2:53
19. Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber / Joseph Mohr) 3:53
20. Jingle Bells (James Pierpont) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 3:02
21. Frosty The Snowman (Jack Rollins / Steve Nelson) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 2:08
22. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin) 5:37
23. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Victor Hely Hutchinson) feat. Kansas Smitty’s 2:15
24. Let No Walls Divide (Martin Broones Composer / William Aubert Luce) 3:24
Personnel:
Piano, Vocals: Jamie Cullum
Conductor, Bells, Piano, Trumpet, Bass Clarinet: Tom Richards
Viola: Ann Beilby, Helen Kamminga, Julia Knight, Kate Musker, Lydia Lowndes-Northcott, Reiad Chibah
Violin: Beatrix Lovejoy, Ben Buckton, Ciaran McCabe, Daniel Bhattacharya, Dorina Markoff, Everton Nelson, Jeremy Isaac, John Mills, Kate Robinson, Marianne Haynes, Max Baillie, Natalia Bonner, Patrick Savage, Rita Manning, Steve Morris, Tom Piggot-Smith,
Background Vocalist, Violin: Flora Curzon
Cello: Bozidar Vukotic, Chris Worsey, Ian Burdge, Tony Woollard, Alice Purton
Trombone: Alistair White, Mark Frost, Nichol Thomson, Trevor Mires, Tracy Holloway, Mark Nightingale, Dave Stewart (bass), Chris Traves
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet, Flute: Claire McInerney
Tenor Saxophone: Martin Williams
Alto Saxophone, Flute: Graeme Blevins, Howard McGill
Trumpet: Louis Dowdeswell, Rory Simmons, Tom Rees-Roberts, Tom Walsh
French Horn: Richard Bissill, Michael Thompson, Laurence Davies, Alexei Watkins, Angela Barnes
Alto Flute, Clarinet, Flute: Paul Booth, Martin Williams
Tuba: Owen Slade, Mike Poyser
Double Bass: Loz Garratt, Chris Laurence, Richard Price, Stacey Richard Watton, Loz Garratt
Drum: Brad Webb
Piano, Hammond Organ: Ross Stanley
Harp: Hugh Webb
Percussion: James Turner
Guitar: Tom Varrall
Bells, Tambourine: Kitty Durham
Special Guests
Lady Blackbird: vocals
Kansas Smitty’s: Giacomo Smith (clarinet, alto and soprano sax), Alec Harper (clarinet, tenor sax), Dan Higham (trombone), Dave Archer (guitar), Ferg Ireland (bass), Will Cleasby (drums), Joe Webb (piano, organ)
The Vernon Spring: Sam Beste (piano)
Recording Engineer: Andrew Dudman, Lewis Durham, Danny Allin
Asst. Recording Engineers: Christopher James Parker, Edward Denholm, Gianluca Massimo, Jack Mills, Kitty Durham
Mixer: Greg Wells
Mastering Engineer: Simon Gibson, Brian Lucey
Vocal Engineer: Danny Allin, Chris Seefried
Review:
The first disc in this two-CD set features Cullum’s album of 10 originals by the same name from a year ago; the second is a whole new set of 13 tunes, including 11 covers and two originals. In addition, the singer/songwriter/pianist collaborates with scenesters Kansas Smitty’s, the Vernon Spring, and Lady Blackbird. I particularly enjoyed his takes on “In the Bleak Midwinter” and Greg Lake’s “I Believe in Father Christmas.” All in all, it’s a spirited and high-energy collection of holiday music from the British jazz star.
Lee Mergner (JazzTimes)
