 | 1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2. O Come O Come Emmanuel 3. Away in a Manger-Solo 4. I Saw Three Ships 5. Angels from the Realms of Glory 6. In the Bleak Mid-Winter/In the Bulb There Is a Flower 7. Sing We Now of Christmas/O Come All Ye Faithful 8. Silent Night 9. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 10. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming 11. Away in a Manger 12. The First Nowell 13. O Little Town of Bethlehem 14. Emmanuel, Emmanuel / Feliz Navidad |
I love Jazz and "True Christmas" by Two Times True is just the sort of thing I love.
Two Times True are from St. Louis, Missouri, led by pianist Carolbeth True. True has played, and continues to play, the region in various configurations, but Two Times True is her current group of choice. One reason for that (and the source of the group's name) might be spending quality time with the drummer, who happens to be her son, Dave True. Glen Smith provides the bass and saxophonist Larry Johnson rounds out the quartet (though Johnson sits out most of "True Christmas").
In addition to being a popular performer and a teacher of both Classical and Jazz piano, Carolbeth has always been active in the community. Combining her love of music and community, you'll find her and Two Times True performing Jazz services at Christmas time. Virtually any musician will tell you that Christmas songs, and especially the old hymns, have some of the most beautiful melodies ever composed. Two Times True bring out the beauty of these melodies in contemporary Jazz arrangements which serve to somehow emphasize the deeper meaning of the original hymns. I think "In The Bleak Midwinter" demonstrates this as well as anything. The song has been presented so often as some downbeat (nearly depressing) Folk song that, when Two Times True do it, it's as beautiful as a flower slowly opening to welcome the morning sun.
For pure musicality, it's hard to beat "Sing We Now of Christmas/O Come All Ye Faithful", one of the few songs on "True Christmas" to showcase Larry Johnson's sax. Johnson is also heard on the album's closing track, "Emmanurl, Emmanuel/Feliz Navidad", while one of the two versions of "Away In A Manger" is performed by Carolbeth as a solo piano piece. The remainder of the album is Trio Jazz.
Other highlights from the set include "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" and "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear". I chose the later to lead off the piece because, while Carolbeth does seem to draw in equal measure from Jazz and Classical greats, I had the distinct impression, listening to "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", that that was all her (plus there's the nice little solo from Dave).
If you're a Jazz fan, or just a fan of the traditional hymns of Christmas, "True Christmas" by Two Times True will be a welcome addition to your holiday soundtrack.
Two Times True are from St. Louis, Missouri, led by pianist Carolbeth True. True has played, and continues to play, the region in various configurations, but Two Times True is her current group of choice. One reason for that (and the source of the group's name) might be spending quality time with the drummer, who happens to be her son, Dave True. Glen Smith provides the bass and saxophonist Larry Johnson rounds out the quartet (though Johnson sits out most of "True Christmas").
In addition to being a popular performer and a teacher of both Classical and Jazz piano, Carolbeth has always been active in the community. Combining her love of music and community, you'll find her and Two Times True performing Jazz services at Christmas time. Virtually any musician will tell you that Christmas songs, and especially the old hymns, have some of the most beautiful melodies ever composed. Two Times True bring out the beauty of these melodies in contemporary Jazz arrangements which serve to somehow emphasize the deeper meaning of the original hymns. I think "In The Bleak Midwinter" demonstrates this as well as anything. The song has been presented so often as some downbeat (nearly depressing) Folk song that, when Two Times True do it, it's as beautiful as a flower slowly opening to welcome the morning sun.
For pure musicality, it's hard to beat "Sing We Now of Christmas/O Come All Ye Faithful", one of the few songs on "True Christmas" to showcase Larry Johnson's sax. Johnson is also heard on the album's closing track, "Emmanurl, Emmanuel/Feliz Navidad", while one of the two versions of "Away In A Manger" is performed by Carolbeth as a solo piano piece. The remainder of the album is Trio Jazz.
Other highlights from the set include "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" and "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear". I chose the later to lead off the piece because, while Carolbeth does seem to draw in equal measure from Jazz and Classical greats, I had the distinct impression, listening to "It Came Upon The Midnight Clear", that that was all her (plus there's the nice little solo from Dave).
If you're a Jazz fan, or just a fan of the traditional hymns of Christmas, "True Christmas" by Two Times True will be a welcome addition to your holiday soundtrack.
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