1. Nossa Bossa Nova - The First Noel (USA/Brazil) 2. Arspop - Astro Del Ciel (Italy/Burkina Faso) 3. Fredérick De Grandpré - Noël Avec Toi (Quebec/Canada) 4. Jan Luna - Winter Wonderland (Hawaii/USA) 5. Marina del Gaudio - Bianca Natale (Italy) 6. Inês Pupo & Gonçalo Pratas - O Natal Já Começou (Portugal) 7. Roman Street - Little Drummer Boy (USA) 8. Lynn August - Christmas by the Bar-B-Que (Louisiana/USA) 9. The Mighty Diamonds - Frosty the Snowman (Jamaica) 10. Leon Redbone - Christmas Island (USA) BANDCAMP AMAZON |
"Joy To The World" features 10 tracks and, while some will probably be familiar to you, Putumayo always finds some gems you haven't heard because we Americans don't always know what's going on in other countries, Christmas music wise. Like that track up top from Nossa Bossa Nova. Did you know they had an entire album of Christmas music, "For Christmas", released in 2012? Of course you did. But what about Inês Pupo & Gonçalo Pratas? Did you know about their Christmas song from 2009, "O Natal Já Começou" ("Christmas Has Begun")? Did ya? Huh? Probably not. I didn't. Language aside, the tune isn't from a Christmas album, but an album of assorted children's songs, "Galo Gordo". But it's pretty cool. Listen.
Most of the songs on "Joy To The World" are your holiday favorites--just played or sung in a language or style that makes them fresh again. Italy's Arspop do a beautiful job with "Astro Del Ciel" ("Silent Night"). Also from Italy, Marina del Gaudio sings "Blanca Natale" ("White Christmas"). Fredérick De Grandpré adds a bit of French Canadian Lounge with "Noël Avec Toi" ("I'll Be Home For Christmas"). And Jan Luna puts an Hawaiian spin on "Winter Wonderland" ("Winter Wonderland"). Then it's off to Jamaica, mon, for "Frosty The Snowman" from The Mighty Diamonds. Watch out for Frosty, mon. He's blacking up, mon, carryin' a spliff an everyting. Leon Redbone always seems to fit in on a World Music mix and, here, we get his version of "Christmas Island". And you can find one minute song samples at Bandcamp.
But, you know me, I can't resist the opportunity to play the Blues. So here's Lynn August with "Christmas By The Bar-B-Que".