You see, the thing is, some of what we know is coming for Christmas 2016 is pretty widely written about and promoted. For example, I've had readers write to me about the Christmas album Kacey Musgraves is currently working on. But, if you didn't already know that Kacey is making a Christmas record, you're not really trying very hard. And I know my readers are pretty hard core Christmas heads. You likely knew about Ms. Musgraves cooking up some Christmas cookies before I did (or certainly not much later). Anyway, she's on the Naughty List right now (and I don't mean that in a good way) and may not get another mention here, this year.
Uh-uh. If Stubby's House can't hound up some hardly mentioned holiday honey over the horizon that nobody else has told you about, then I might as well pack it in.
So what do I know that you might not? Keeping in mind that many plan a dose of December that never drops, and that, this far out, details are sparse, how about something for the Parrot Heads?
Uh-uh. If Stubby's House can't hound up some hardly mentioned holiday honey over the horizon that nobody else has told you about, then I might as well pack it in.
So what do I know that you might not? Keeping in mind that many plan a dose of December that never drops, and that, this far out, details are sparse, how about something for the Parrot Heads?
Yep, Jimmy Buffett is reportedly working on a new Christmas record. This news comes from Alan Schulman who has been engineering and mixing all of Buffett's music since 1997 (ironically the year after Jimmy's first and, so far, only Christmas album--"Christmas Island"). At the recent induction of "Margaritaville" into the Grammy Hall of Fame, Schulman let drop that he'd just been booked to engineer a new Buffett Christmas album. How cool is that? And Jimmy's one of the few artists who shouldn't find it weird to be recording Christmas songs in summertime, given the tropical nature of much of his music. And, for those who didn't already know, Buffett's a Christmas birthday guy...born on December 25 and turning 70 this year.
If you're a regular around here, you know that, every year, there's usually one Christmas album I trip over from an artist I'd never heard before that has me all excited for the holidays ahead--one artist and album I've penned into my "must buy" list months or more in advance. And, yes, I've found it. Wanna guess what kind of music it involves?
BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUes!
BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUes!
Lisa Wenger is a hard working Blues woman well-known to folks in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. And, if there's one thing Minnesotans know, it's Blues. They did, afterall, give us the Lamont Cranston Band (still one of my all-time faves, even though I don't think they ever cut a Christmas tune). Now, me, I'm here in North Carolina and I hadn't heard of Lisa Wenger & Her Mean Mean Men. So, when I read that she was working on a Christmas album, I did what I usually do--went wherever I could to hear her doing her thing. Fortunately, she has some song samples from her three previous albums on her web site and a lot of live performances on YouTube. Now, to be fair to Ms. Wenger, she's not just a Blues singer. She's equally at home with all kinds of roots music. But when she sings the Blues, man, that's when my heart starts beating like a drum and my feet take to tapping. She's my favorite kind of Blues singer, too--a Blues shouter in the tradition of great artists like Big Mama Thornton and Joe Turner.
I don't know for sure that the Christmas album will arrive this year. Independent artists don't have big label money behind them and they have to play out a lot to pay the bills. And I don't know that it won't be all Americana and Rockabilly, instead of Blues. But I got my fingers and toes crossed and, just to be safe, its on the list I sent to Santa (you gotta write Santa early, kids; things get pretty busy at the North Pole later in the year). Keep an eye on her website and Facebook page for any announcements.
Among the videos on YouTube (all live), there is one of "Run Run Rudolph", but I liked the sound quality and camera work on this one a tad better. So enjoy. Lisa Wenger & Her Mean Mean Men are gonna rock your world.
I don't know for sure that the Christmas album will arrive this year. Independent artists don't have big label money behind them and they have to play out a lot to pay the bills. And I don't know that it won't be all Americana and Rockabilly, instead of Blues. But I got my fingers and toes crossed and, just to be safe, its on the list I sent to Santa (you gotta write Santa early, kids; things get pretty busy at the North Pole later in the year). Keep an eye on her website and Facebook page for any announcements.
Among the videos on YouTube (all live), there is one of "Run Run Rudolph", but I liked the sound quality and camera work on this one a tad better. So enjoy. Lisa Wenger & Her Mean Mean Men are gonna rock your world.
Fans of the late Jerry Garcia may recognize the name Melvin Seals. Seals was a longtime member of The Jerry Garcia Band and, after Jerry passed, Seals has continued his legacy with a revamped Garcia Band, now called the JGB. They play Jerry's music and more in the familiar Jerry Garcia style. So it's a "melting pot" of Blues, Folk and Rock, mostly ("Melting Pot", by the way, was Seals' first solo effort in 2005 and that sucker cooks in ways I can't even describe). Seals, who plays the keyboards, tells a great story of how he got involved with the Jerry Garcia Band. He didn't even know who Garcia was at the time, but they clicked immediately. After Jerry passed, it became John Kahn's band and he had his own musical vision. The fans, though, were always asking for Garcia tunes. A tour was booked, but Kahn, too, passed away. And Seals, more or less, became the leader, deciding that JGB would give the fans what they'd been asking for.
In addition to the JGB, Seals is in three other bands, so the man has plenty on his plate. But he is planning a Christmas release--hopefully coming out this year. As explained by Seals, this record will not be a Grateful Dead infused effort. Seals got his start in the church and he wants to record a holiday record that features carols played straight-forward on the organ.
"[Y]ou know when Christmas time rolls around I hear all the beautiful instruments, saxophone, piano, acoustic guitar, I hear Christmas carols played by almost every instrument, but when it comes to the organ it’s one or two songs by Jimmy Smith and he’s jazzed them up. I want to do the Christmas carols in the anthem style they were written in but not jazz them up. Just put orchestration around the organ.... Just something I want to do."
Keep up with all of Melvin's bands and music at his website and via Facebook.
In addition to the JGB, Seals is in three other bands, so the man has plenty on his plate. But he is planning a Christmas release--hopefully coming out this year. As explained by Seals, this record will not be a Grateful Dead infused effort. Seals got his start in the church and he wants to record a holiday record that features carols played straight-forward on the organ.
"[Y]ou know when Christmas time rolls around I hear all the beautiful instruments, saxophone, piano, acoustic guitar, I hear Christmas carols played by almost every instrument, but when it comes to the organ it’s one or two songs by Jimmy Smith and he’s jazzed them up. I want to do the Christmas carols in the anthem style they were written in but not jazz them up. Just put orchestration around the organ.... Just something I want to do."
Keep up with all of Melvin's bands and music at his website and via Facebook.
The name Ana Gasteyer may not instantly be familiar to you. So let's refresh your memory.
Ana was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002, following her work with the west coast improv group, The Groundlings. Her Martha Stewart is just one of the many characters she did on SNL (she was also part of the "Schweddy Balls" skit). Classically trained in both voice and violin as a child, Ana has an extensive list of movie and television credits and, through the aughts, built up a substantial Broadway resume as well. She released her first full-length album in 2014 and "I'm Hip" demonstrated a super set of pipes and a style that shows a pretty solid understanding of and aptitude for Jazz, though she can't resist keeping her tongue in her cheek for too long. Check the single "One Mint Julep" for the full Gasteyer flair (although I'm partial to her hipster rendition of Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" myself).
Ana Gasteyer is currently recording a Christmas album which she describes as "joyful and ridiculous". That sounds about right. Novelty sets look to be in abundance this Christmas, with William Shatner working with Ben Folds and Glee's Jane Lynch also doing up Christmas, but I suspect Ana's Christmas album may be the one with the music and spirit to lift it beyond mere curiosity, at least if "I'm Hip" is any indication.
Ana did a live performance of "I'm Hip" on Public Television last December, and included this nod to the season, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".
Ana Gasteyer is currently recording a Christmas album which she describes as "joyful and ridiculous". That sounds about right. Novelty sets look to be in abundance this Christmas, with William Shatner working with Ben Folds and Glee's Jane Lynch also doing up Christmas, but I suspect Ana's Christmas album may be the one with the music and spirit to lift it beyond mere curiosity, at least if "I'm Hip" is any indication.
Ana did a live performance of "I'm Hip" on Public Television last December, and included this nod to the season, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".
Among the artists with Christmas on their minds for more than a year, we know that Garth Brooks has completed his album of Christmas duets with wife Trisha Yearwood. No news of Avril Lavigne. David Cassidy is still working on a holiday record. As is the former drummer from Blue Oyster Cult, Albert Bouchard (although, whether that's a solo project or one from Blue Coupe isn't entirely clear). And we do know that Jennifer Lopez is currently in the studio. Rumors have it she's either working on a Christmas album or a new Spanish language record, but JLo's not talking so it's just speculation at this point.
Among our new entries, Rascal Flatts Christmas album will include "O Holy Night". The Oak Ridge Boys are hard at work on their next Christmas album cause, you know, there's a shortage of Oak Ridge Boys Christmas music apparently (it's called sarcasm, kids). Amy Grant, 25 years after "Baby Baby", is another artist planning another Christmas record.
And mark this one down for 2017. Remember "MmmBop"? As a Bubblegum child, I still love that record. Hanson, the brothers three who wrote and sang that tune, may have been absent from the charts for quite some time, but their following is large and loyal and those kids are working constantly--either playing live or recording in the studio. There's the one studio Christmas album we all know, 1997's "Snowed In", but the Hansons have released the occasional Christmas single over the years, due to the huge demand of their followers, though those have generally only been available through their website. This fall, Hanson returns to the studio to cut an all new Christmas album, which will be released next year. Working title is "A Wintery Mix".
Here's the Hanson Christmas single from 2011, "My Favorite Christmas Sweater".
Among our new entries, Rascal Flatts Christmas album will include "O Holy Night". The Oak Ridge Boys are hard at work on their next Christmas album cause, you know, there's a shortage of Oak Ridge Boys Christmas music apparently (it's called sarcasm, kids). Amy Grant, 25 years after "Baby Baby", is another artist planning another Christmas record.
And mark this one down for 2017. Remember "MmmBop"? As a Bubblegum child, I still love that record. Hanson, the brothers three who wrote and sang that tune, may have been absent from the charts for quite some time, but their following is large and loyal and those kids are working constantly--either playing live or recording in the studio. There's the one studio Christmas album we all know, 1997's "Snowed In", but the Hansons have released the occasional Christmas single over the years, due to the huge demand of their followers, though those have generally only been available through their website. This fall, Hanson returns to the studio to cut an all new Christmas album, which will be released next year. Working title is "A Wintery Mix".
Here's the Hanson Christmas single from 2011, "My Favorite Christmas Sweater".
For those who prefer their Christmas music a little more on the spiritual side, CCM and Worship artist Matt Redman is currently working on a Christmas album. If you're unfamiliar with Matt, he's from England and his music would remind you of Chris Tomlin, more than anyone else I can think of off hand. In fact, the two tour together often. Matt scored a huge Christian hit on both sides of the Atlantic with "10,000 Reasons" in 2012 and he's still touring in support of last year's album, "Unbroken Praise". Matt's Christmas set is expected to feature both traditional music of the season and new compositions with his usual worship flair. "O Sacred King", below, is from the 2000 album, "The Father's Song". Usually the CCM Christmas releases are the first one's we hear about, but this is the first such project to come to our attention this year.
It's almost five o'clock in the morning, so I'd better wrap this up. Mrs. Katz (not her real name) is probably having a fit.
Cantabile--The London Quartet is working on their second Christmas album. "Cantabile Christmas", their first, came out in 2003, I believe. It's an interesting a cappella group that straddles the line between Classical and Pop. They can sound like something off an old Lawrence Welk Show or a track from an old a Spike Jones record. Like I said, they're interesting. And I like interesting. Songs that are expected for this album include "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", "Let It Snow", "Christmas Cards", "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Nativite (Divine Poems No. 3)".
There's not much I can tell you about Cantabile--The London Quartet. They're one of those groups you have to hear to get. So here's my favorite track from their first holiday CD, "Lonely This Christmas". On this one, they go straight up street corner harmony and they sound great.
Cantabile--The London Quartet is working on their second Christmas album. "Cantabile Christmas", their first, came out in 2003, I believe. It's an interesting a cappella group that straddles the line between Classical and Pop. They can sound like something off an old Lawrence Welk Show or a track from an old a Spike Jones record. Like I said, they're interesting. And I like interesting. Songs that are expected for this album include "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve", "Let It Snow", "Christmas Cards", "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "Nativite (Divine Poems No. 3)".
There's not much I can tell you about Cantabile--The London Quartet. They're one of those groups you have to hear to get. So here's my favorite track from their first holiday CD, "Lonely This Christmas". On this one, they go straight up street corner harmony and they sound great.
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