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THE NOLA PLAYERS OFFICIAL WEB SITE
THE NOLA PLAYERS ON FACEBOOK
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON
PURCHASE FROM iTUNES
PURCHASE FROM BARNES & NOBLE
THE NOLA PLAYERS ON FACEBOOK
PURCHASE FROM AMAZON
PURCHASE FROM iTUNES
PURCHASE FROM BARNES & NOBLE
It seems ages ago, but one of the most memorable television moments for me in the last 25 years or so, was the appearance of Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) on the short-lived series "Studio 60". Critics hated the show. Me, I loved it. But even critics couldn't deny that the entire world seemed to stop when Shorty led a collection of New Orleans musicians on "O Holy Night". in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Anyone who saw that performance was immediately consumed by three thoughts.
1) That is the single most beautiful thing I've ever heard.
2) Where can I get a recording of that?
3) Where can I find an entire Christmas album of this?
Thought 1 requires no further explanation. Thought 2 was quickly answered as NBC made the track available as a free download, and it remained a free download for years after "Studio 60" became a distant memory, if not from NBC, then from Trombone Shorty and Tipitina's Foundation.
But thought 3. Well, now, that one was a bit trickier. Andrews, himself, has refrained from putting out a full Christmas album, though he's popped up on the sets of others (including Rod Stewart and Cee-Lo Green). Lord knows, we've had plenty of excellent Christmas music coming out of New Orleans in the past decade...but nothing quite like that performance. It has taken a full decade but, at last, I'm here to tell you that "Christmastime In New Orleans" by The NOLA Players might just be the scratch for that itch.
1) That is the single most beautiful thing I've ever heard.
2) Where can I get a recording of that?
3) Where can I find an entire Christmas album of this?
Thought 1 requires no further explanation. Thought 2 was quickly answered as NBC made the track available as a free download, and it remained a free download for years after "Studio 60" became a distant memory, if not from NBC, then from Trombone Shorty and Tipitina's Foundation.
But thought 3. Well, now, that one was a bit trickier. Andrews, himself, has refrained from putting out a full Christmas album, though he's popped up on the sets of others (including Rod Stewart and Cee-Lo Green). Lord knows, we've had plenty of excellent Christmas music coming out of New Orleans in the past decade...but nothing quite like that performance. It has taken a full decade but, at last, I'm here to tell you that "Christmastime In New Orleans" by The NOLA Players might just be the scratch for that itch.
I don't want to mislead anyone. Trombone Shorty is not on this album and none of the NOLA Players, so far as I can tell, were on that "Studio 60" episode. And the spirit on "Christmastime In New Orleans" is more celebratory than somber (though every bit as regal). But if you were to conjure in your mind an entire Christmas album to go with that performance (and, believe me, I've been conjuring for ten years), it might very well be this one.
The NOLA Players are 18 of the premier Jazz musicians New Orleans has to offer. They are veterans who have done it all, from playing on street corners and in dive bars to touring concert halls with the biggest of big name stars. And, the city being what it is, they've crossed musical paths with each other more than once or twice. You know those friends that maybe you see once a year and yet its like no time at all has passed? They're like that. And, when you know people that well, the magic comes easy. Emmy winner Mike Esneault wrote the arrangements and, knowing the others as well as he does, could write those arrangements to the strengths of the players. Grammy winning producer Christopher Alder set them up on a stage in the legendary Saenger Theater in downtown New Orleans and they did it live (though in studio conditions), which gives it all a fresh and funky spontaneity.
I've spoken before about how much Jazz, these days, misses the sweet spot--either by being too staid, stuffy and formal or by being too "smooth" and soulless. The NOLA Players, though, get it precisely right. They demonstrate that you can, indeed, brew up a batch that's as easy as a Sunday morning and yet still swings like Saturday night. And they make it all seem so effortless. Like any good gumbo, the ingredients might look a little random to an outsider, but these veteran chefs know exactly how much of each ingredient to add and when to add it. "Christmastime In New Orleans" doesn't overdo what you might think of as the New Orleans sound. You feel it, but its perfectly measured. That feeling is a little more evident in the second half of the disc. "Jingle Bells" is definitely full of New Orleans strut. On "Away In A Manger", Mike Esneault's piano strokes paint with shades of Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and a little bit of what I imagine Vince Guaraldi would sound like had he been raised in a New Orleans Gospel tradition. And "Go Tell It On The Mountain" has surely got that whole second-line parade down Main Street thing going on (and Charlie Dennard's too brief organ break is killer).
The NOLA Players are 18 of the premier Jazz musicians New Orleans has to offer. They are veterans who have done it all, from playing on street corners and in dive bars to touring concert halls with the biggest of big name stars. And, the city being what it is, they've crossed musical paths with each other more than once or twice. You know those friends that maybe you see once a year and yet its like no time at all has passed? They're like that. And, when you know people that well, the magic comes easy. Emmy winner Mike Esneault wrote the arrangements and, knowing the others as well as he does, could write those arrangements to the strengths of the players. Grammy winning producer Christopher Alder set them up on a stage in the legendary Saenger Theater in downtown New Orleans and they did it live (though in studio conditions), which gives it all a fresh and funky spontaneity.
I've spoken before about how much Jazz, these days, misses the sweet spot--either by being too staid, stuffy and formal or by being too "smooth" and soulless. The NOLA Players, though, get it precisely right. They demonstrate that you can, indeed, brew up a batch that's as easy as a Sunday morning and yet still swings like Saturday night. And they make it all seem so effortless. Like any good gumbo, the ingredients might look a little random to an outsider, but these veteran chefs know exactly how much of each ingredient to add and when to add it. "Christmastime In New Orleans" doesn't overdo what you might think of as the New Orleans sound. You feel it, but its perfectly measured. That feeling is a little more evident in the second half of the disc. "Jingle Bells" is definitely full of New Orleans strut. On "Away In A Manger", Mike Esneault's piano strokes paint with shades of Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, and a little bit of what I imagine Vince Guaraldi would sound like had he been raised in a New Orleans Gospel tradition. And "Go Tell It On The Mountain" has surely got that whole second-line parade down Main Street thing going on (and Charlie Dennard's too brief organ break is killer).
There's a thought I've been having trouble putting into words, here. I've written and erased a couple of dozen attempts, so bear with me. Some of the traditional Christmas songs have been presented so often and so often poorly in recent years that you grow to dislike them. After a while, you just want to tear your hair out and shout at the stereo, "Why are you doing this?" There's none of that, here. The NOLA Players breathe fresh life into some songs I'd long ago banished to my own personal graveyard. And it isn't just the arrangements, which are certainly as fresh and wonderful as any I've encountered in a long time. It's the spirit they bring to it. I mean, there's actually JOY in "Joy To The World". I'd given up all hope of the possibility. And, Oh. My. God. The sheer beauty of "The Holly & The Ivy". Where has that been all this time? Do you know how many limp and lifeless versions of that song I've sat through? Too many.
No doubt, the album reflects the spirit of the city of New Orleans. The sound is both big AND easy. Best of all, though, is that "Christmastime In New Orleans" is filled with the spirit of Christmas. From the opening notes of "Silver Bells" to the final note of "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear", there's the feeling of being young again and the awe and wonder of flying high above the world in Santa's sleigh. You can actually see the twinkle in the eyes of these 18 St. Nicks as they deliver their bundle of goodies to a far too often weary world. One of the other things I often say is that, if the musicians are having a good time playing the music, the listener is going to have a good time listening. The NOLA Players clearly had a blast making this record. You can't help but feel that. And it's contagious as all get out.
I don't know that I can even pull out favorites without naming every song on the album. "Silver Bells", "Deck The Halls" and the title cut may be the best one-two-three punch to open a Christmas Jazz album I've ever heard. "O Christmas Tree" goes through more seamless personality changes than Sybil. "I Saw Three Ships" is another track the NOLA Players rescued from my Christmas song graveyard, both for the big sound reminiscent of those old TV show themes ("M Squad" and "Police Squad" spring easily to mind, as does the old Tonight Show band...you know, the one led by Doc Severinsen) and a percussion solo you've really got to hear. And I've always been a sucker for the flute, so toss in "The Holly & The Ivy" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear". But there are no bad tracks on "Christmastime In New Orleans". And, with roughly an hour of Christmas jubilation, they didn't skimp out on the tune-age, even if you nonetheless find yourself feeling it was over too soon.
It would be easy to say, "If you like Jazz, you should pick this up." But I'm firmly of the view that, even if you don't like Jazz, you should pick this up anyway. You should also look out for the "Christmastime In New Orleans" special on PBS. As they say, check your local listings for dates and times.
Rather than try to pick out which musician shines in any given spot (beyond the little bit that I have already), I'm just going to give you the full list. They are all magnificent. Take a bow, guys. You done Christmas and New Orleans proud. You done great.
It would be easy to say, "If you like Jazz, you should pick this up." But I'm firmly of the view that, even if you don't like Jazz, you should pick this up anyway. You should also look out for the "Christmastime In New Orleans" special on PBS. As they say, check your local listings for dates and times.
Rather than try to pick out which musician shines in any given spot (beyond the little bit that I have already), I'm just going to give you the full list. They are all magnificent. Take a bow, guys. You done Christmas and New Orleans proud. You done great.
Mike Esneault, piano and arranger
Jim Atwood, Percussion
Roland Guerin, Bass
Terrance Taplin, Lead trombone
Jason Marsalis, Vibes and percussion
Geoff Clapp, Drums
Rex Gregory, Lead alto, clarinet and flute
Bobby Campo, Lead trumpet
Ashlin Parker, Trumpet
BJ McGibney, Bass trombone
Ray Moore, 2nd alto, clarinet and flute
Matt Wright, Trombone
Tony Dagradi, Lead tenor, and clarinet
John Reeks, 2nd tenor and clarinet
Jason Mingledorff, Baritone sax
Stephen Orejudos, Trumpet
Charlie Dennard, Organ and keyboards
Mike Vila, Guitar
Jim Atwood, Percussion
Roland Guerin, Bass
Terrance Taplin, Lead trombone
Jason Marsalis, Vibes and percussion
Geoff Clapp, Drums
Rex Gregory, Lead alto, clarinet and flute
Bobby Campo, Lead trumpet
Ashlin Parker, Trumpet
BJ McGibney, Bass trombone
Ray Moore, 2nd alto, clarinet and flute
Matt Wright, Trombone
Tony Dagradi, Lead tenor, and clarinet
John Reeks, 2nd tenor and clarinet
Jason Mingledorff, Baritone sax
Stephen Orejudos, Trumpet
Charlie Dennard, Organ and keyboards
Mike Vila, Guitar
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