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1. Baby It's Cold Outside 2. Comin' Down Christmas 3. Light One Candle 4. Santa Claus is Back in Town 5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 6. Feels Like Christmas 7. That's What I Want for Christmas 8. Winter Wonderland REN GEISICK WEBSITE REN GEISICK ON FACEBOOK DOWNLOAD FROM BANDCAMP |
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Our friends at Santapalooza thought "Stubby would like this" and sent the link our way. And we thank them.
Ren Geisick is a young Jazz singer from California. She's currently finishing up her debut album which is expected to be released early in the new year. While Ren absorbed a lot listening to Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald growing up, she was also blown away by the music of Eva Cassidy, and some of Eva's style, primarily her emotional honesty, has inspired Ren's approach as well.
For the second year in a row, Ren took center stage at City Lights for a Christmas and seasonal program, "Ren's Winter Wonderland", and the the tracks on "Feels Like Christmas" were culled from the December 6 performance.
On the downside, I simply can't listen to "Baby It's Cold Outside" anymore. Forget the creepy aspects, it's just played out (you've had it with "Little Drummer Boy"? I'm done with "Baby It's Cold Outside"). They clearly have fun with it, but it doesn't help (for me). And "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" just comes off as a bit too Cabaret Jazz for my taste. But the band is solid throughout, Ren soars when she cuts loose (as on the Bluesy "Santa Claus Is Back In Town"), the two originals are fantastic (especially "Comin' Down Christmas", written by keyboard man Jon Dryden), and Ren and company shine on "That's What I Want For Christmas" (though I still maintain Dave's True Story did it best). And, if there needed to be any more here to recommend it, Ren included a Hanukkah song, Peter Yarrow's "Light One Candle". You can always impress me by remembering that there's a large group of folks who celebrate Hanukkah.
As a free (or name-your-price) download from Bandcamp, there's no reason not to recommend "Feels Like Christmas". But, for the affirmative case, tracks 2 through 4 alone are more exceptional than anything an awful lot of Jazz albums I've purchased can muster. I'm looking forward to hearing Ren Geisick's debut album next year.
Ren Geisick is a young Jazz singer from California. She's currently finishing up her debut album which is expected to be released early in the new year. While Ren absorbed a lot listening to Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald growing up, she was also blown away by the music of Eva Cassidy, and some of Eva's style, primarily her emotional honesty, has inspired Ren's approach as well.
For the second year in a row, Ren took center stage at City Lights for a Christmas and seasonal program, "Ren's Winter Wonderland", and the the tracks on "Feels Like Christmas" were culled from the December 6 performance.
On the downside, I simply can't listen to "Baby It's Cold Outside" anymore. Forget the creepy aspects, it's just played out (you've had it with "Little Drummer Boy"? I'm done with "Baby It's Cold Outside"). They clearly have fun with it, but it doesn't help (for me). And "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" just comes off as a bit too Cabaret Jazz for my taste. But the band is solid throughout, Ren soars when she cuts loose (as on the Bluesy "Santa Claus Is Back In Town"), the two originals are fantastic (especially "Comin' Down Christmas", written by keyboard man Jon Dryden), and Ren and company shine on "That's What I Want For Christmas" (though I still maintain Dave's True Story did it best). And, if there needed to be any more here to recommend it, Ren included a Hanukkah song, Peter Yarrow's "Light One Candle". You can always impress me by remembering that there's a large group of folks who celebrate Hanukkah.
As a free (or name-your-price) download from Bandcamp, there's no reason not to recommend "Feels Like Christmas". But, for the affirmative case, tracks 2 through 4 alone are more exceptional than anything an awful lot of Jazz albums I've purchased can muster. I'm looking forward to hearing Ren Geisick's debut album next year.
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