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Brian Culbertson - A Soulful Christmas
- Brian Culbertson’s A Soulful Christmas inflects moxie into holiday favorites, giving them each a plucky feeling. The “Intro” lets listeners know that the holidays have arrived with Culbertson on trumpet beckoning the season. “Joy To The World” has piano and trumpet work from Culbertson, as well as alto saxophone play from Warren Hill and Eric Marienthal. The choir singing the frolicsome vocals consists of Troy Clark, David Daughtry, Otha White, Shanika Leeks, Geneen White, Keith Allen, Chara Hammonds, Demeka Jackson, Sharon Norwood and Melody Rhynes. Their seraphic timbres raise lyrics like, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let Earth receive her King,” to astral heights. “Deck The Halls” has Culbertson ringing bells and Marienthal on alto and tenor saxophone imbuing listeners with a Dave Koz flow. Koz arranged the album, so his influence is felt in that way as well. Eric Darius also lends his tenor saxophone skills to the track. “Jingle Bells” has more practiced piano play from Culbertson along with Hammond organ work from Ricky Peterson. “The First Noel” is a laid-back rendition of the holy classic where Culbertson makes the piano sing its outspoken notes to the heavens. “All Through the Christmas Night,” has more Hammond organ play from Peterson and vocals from Marc Nelson that resonate some lonely sentiments about the holidays, with lyrics like, "Another winter’s come. So hard this time of year. Heaven knows I pray for better days. Two seconds from shedding tears.” Brian Culbertson’s A Soulful Christmas is a smooth take on joyous staples, using jazz instruments and infusing the season with a little spunk.
Reviewer: Sari N. Kent
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1
Added: 3-Dec-2006
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