Spirit of Christmas (cd baby)
Lynne Fiddmont
Released in 2012
Last.fm Top Christmas Jazz Albums
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lB_nhoTmVM4LLOy1fmCD8Q_ClnNQ_Iv54
Spotify:
About:
One thing for sure is, If you ASK for the best, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT. When fellow producer, Andrew Ford and I thought “Who would be perfect for this song or that?” We came up with some names that seemed out of reach. Russell Ferrante of the Yellowjackets – THE YELLOWJACETS!, Then Robert Greenidge whom I nearly stalked at the Caribbean Treehouse in LA, fighting the crowd to get a glimpse of one of the legends of steel drums. I went there to meet him and ask him to play on my CD, like he did on Bill Withers “Just the Two Of Us”, and he did. Then there’s, Everette Harp wailing on Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”and Kevin Whalum, spicy as ever on the classic duet, “Baby It’s Cold Outside” We had Oscar Seaton, Clayton Cameron Arnold McCuller, Keith Fiddmont (My brother who’s awesoome) and way too many incredible musicians to mention who brought it FOR REAL I can’t forget Lamont Van Hook, Leslie Smith, Shannon Pearson, Will Wheaton, Tavia Ivey, and Lisa Vaughn who laced the music with heavenly voices.
I’m so proud of Spirit and I encourage you to play it well beyond December so we can carry the Spirit throughout the world all year long.
PEACE and BLESSINGS!
Lynne Fiddmont
Track Listing:
1. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year 3:38
2. Baby It’s Cold Outside (Kevin Whalum) 3:04
3. Wonderful Christmastime (Russell Ferrante) 4:28
4. Christmas Time Is Here (Keith Fiddmont) 5:12
5. Caroling 2:35
6. Back to Me 3:05
7. Winter Wonderland (Robert Greenidge) 3:06
8. The Christmas Song 3:41
9. This Christmas (Everette Harp) 3:33
10. Spirit of Christmas (Arnold McCuller, Lamont Van Hook, Leslie Smith) 4:12
11. A King Is Born Today (Arnold McCuller, Lamont V) 2:57
Personnel:
Edwin Livingston: bass (2, 3, 4, 6)
Clayton Cameron: drums (2, 4)
Kevin Whalum: vocals (2)
Josh Nelson: piano (2, 4)
Keith Fiddmont: tenor saxophone (2, 4, 5, 9), flute (9)
Reggie Young: trombone (2, 9)
Nolan Shaheed: trumpet (2, 9)
Oscar Seaton: drums (3, 5, 9, 10)
Russell Ferrante: piano (3, 5)
Andrew Ford: synthesizer (1, 3, 7), bass (5, 7, 10)
Lisa Vaughn: vocals (5)
Robert Miller: drums (6)
Bill Steinway: piano (6)
Robert Greenidge: steel drums (7)
Nigel Williams: guitar (7)
Greg Poree: guitar
Alex Al: bass (9)
Wayne Linsey: electric piano (9)
Everett Harp: alto saxophone, electronic wind instrument
Arnold McCuller: vocals (9, 10, 11)
Lamont Van Hook: vocals (9, 10, 11)
Leslie Smith: vocals (9, 10, 11)
Will Wheaton: vocals (9, 10, 11)
Matt Rohde: electronic piano, organ synth (10)
Recorded at Diamond Dreams (Dennis Moody, George Landress, Raphael DiGiorgio); Aftertouch Music, Nashville (Roger Ryan); the Lincoln Lounge (Steve Refling); the Carriage House (Sheldon Gomberg), by Dennis Moody, George Landress, Raphael Digiorgio, Roger Ryan, Sheldon Gomberg, Steve Refling
Mastered by Ron Boustead
Mixed by David Rideau
Cover Design: Toi Whitaker
Cover Photo by Kim E. Photography
Photo Retouch: Valerie Pinkston
Producer: Andrew Ford, Lynne Fiddmont
Review:
Lynne Fiddmont delivers an album filled with Christmas cheer, teaming with luminaries such as Kevin Whalum/ts, Johsn Nelson/p, Russell Ferrante/key, Keith Fiddmont/ts and others. Robert Greenidge brings a Carribean feel with his steel drums on “Winter Wonderland” with some peppy work by Ferrante on Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” Whalum does a cozy duet with Fiddmont on “Baby It’s Cold Outside” while Everette Harp gives some R&B to “This Christmas.” A closing a cappella “A King Is Born Today” was made for a heavenly host!
George W. Harris (Jazz Weekly)
