Where free Christmas music is concerned, I'm always looking for the other genres. You know...Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, that sort of thing. So, when I find some, I pounce. And when I see some that's new--in August--I really pounce.
Leaving aside that Missy Katz (not her real name) is going to give me a hard time because pouncing is her thing, I was excited to come across this set from Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) on Bandcamp, yesterday, released just a week ago on August 12. Le Duo Pichenotte is a Jazz duo from Quebec, featuring Simon Veilleux on the violin (and vocals) and Jen-Michel Viel on the guitar. With such a configuration, it's no surprise that the pair excel at Gypsy Jazz. "Frosty The Snowman" is the purest Gypsy Jazz selection on "For Christmas". But the duo also venture into standard Jazz and that's where we get some sparkling keyboard work from Philippe Grant and additional help from Edouard Robertson (bass) and Francois Pelletier (drums). Their sweetest gift may be Ariane Roy, who adds her vocal talents to two of the tracks.
My biggest reservation with "For Christmas" is the song selection. It's a 5-song set. 2 of them should not be "Santa Baby" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside". There's a fairly universal consensus at this point, I think, that those songs are cooked from over exposure. Stick a fork in them. Doing one is dealable, but both? Shame, too, because Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) play them really well. Indeed, I think they would have worked better as instrumentals. But then we wouldn't get Ariane, so it's a plus/minus equation.
"For Christmas" from Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) is "name your price" at Bandcamp. My reservations on song selection aside, it's an excellent way to beat the heat of the dog days for a half hour or so.
Leaving aside that Missy Katz (not her real name) is going to give me a hard time because pouncing is her thing, I was excited to come across this set from Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) on Bandcamp, yesterday, released just a week ago on August 12. Le Duo Pichenotte is a Jazz duo from Quebec, featuring Simon Veilleux on the violin (and vocals) and Jen-Michel Viel on the guitar. With such a configuration, it's no surprise that the pair excel at Gypsy Jazz. "Frosty The Snowman" is the purest Gypsy Jazz selection on "For Christmas". But the duo also venture into standard Jazz and that's where we get some sparkling keyboard work from Philippe Grant and additional help from Edouard Robertson (bass) and Francois Pelletier (drums). Their sweetest gift may be Ariane Roy, who adds her vocal talents to two of the tracks.
My biggest reservation with "For Christmas" is the song selection. It's a 5-song set. 2 of them should not be "Santa Baby" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside". There's a fairly universal consensus at this point, I think, that those songs are cooked from over exposure. Stick a fork in them. Doing one is dealable, but both? Shame, too, because Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) play them really well. Indeed, I think they would have worked better as instrumentals. But then we wouldn't get Ariane, so it's a plus/minus equation.
"For Christmas" from Le Duo Pichenotte (and friends) is "name your price" at Bandcamp. My reservations on song selection aside, it's an excellent way to beat the heat of the dog days for a half hour or so.
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