Jazzy Christmas to You II on iTunes!

It has finally arrived! Jazzy Christmas to You II is now available from iTunes!

I know it's the day before Halloween, but really, can the joys of Christmas be contained to only after Thanksgiving?

Jazzy Christmas to You II features me on vocals and core band members Zach Wiggins (piano), James Archibald (bass and vocals), and Jesse Quebbeman-Turley (drums).  Also featured are Craig Alder (guitar), Linda Chaston (synth), and J Scott Rakozy (piano).  Looking ahead, next year's album will feature new band member Josh Larsen (bass) with the rest of us since James Archibald has moved away to Texas to be a physicist!

New, fresh arrangements of classic favorites abound in Jazzy Christmas to You II.  Jesse and Zach created a rhythmic instrumental underpinning for my vocal to swing above in a reworking of Santa Baby that is sure to catch your ear!

A personal favorite of the album's recording engineer, Erik Chaston, is I Wonder As I Wander, which is another rhythm-based arrangement from Jesse and Zach.  Take a listen and hear Jesse play a drum trap set as you've never heard one played before--seriously!  The harmonies Zach lays down have a decidedly Celtic flair.  My vocals weave seamlessly into the groove as I sing one of my favorite Christmas songs!

Not to forget my roots in the blues, the album features a new blues, Santa Blues, that I co-wrote with Justin Jensen.  I tell Santa I only want my man home for Christmas and I know that the jolly old elf is the only one who can make that happen!

Since no Christmas album is complete without a duet, James Archibald sings with me on Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!  Last year, he sang Baby, It's Cold Outside with me on Jazzy Christmas to You! and it was a hit!

Last Christmas (yes, THAT Last Christmas of WHAM! fame), gets more laid back with Craig Alder on acoustic guitar and Linda Chaston (my very talented aunt) on synth.  She created the obligato and bass line!  She is a natural talent plus has a degree in music from the University of New Hampshire at Durham!

And just for when you're sitting by the fireplace drinking hot chocolate, You're All I Want for Christmas comes on.  With supple piano harmonies played by J Scott Rakozy and using my velvety vocal range, this Christmas love ballad is sure to tug at your heartstrings!

Check out the rest of the album Jazzy Christmas to You II.  If you prefer listening to the physical CD rather than mp3s, Jazzy Christmas to You II will be available in my store in that format next week on Amazon!

Tomorrow I will tell you all about the album cover design and the artist who created it, my friend Katie, who is at this moment in New York City weathering through the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

I LOVE Christmas--Upcoming CD Cover I Smile!

Jazzy Christmas To You! (2011) Album Cover

I love Christmas! So being a musician, I naturally love Christmas music. And what do I love more than Christmas music? Releasing my Christmas CDs!

Last year, I released Jazzy Christmas To You!, my first Christmas album. It had classics like "Jingle Bells" and "What Child is This" but also included "Merry Christmas, Baby" and a little-known gem "Santa Send a Fella." Jazzy Christmas To You! was a success--not to mention a lot of fun--so I decided to record another Christmas album for 2012.

That brings me to Jazzy Christmas To You II! The title may not seem inventive since I only added Roman numerals II at the end of the previous Christmas album title. However, the continuity and prevailing sentiment resound with me since I believe in recycling.

This year I included a request from my grandmother to record "Santa Baby." The arrangement--by drummer Jesse Quebbeman-Turley and pianist Zach Wiggins--transcends all current arrangements of this iconic song! You will just have to take a listen when it is released!

I love the blues so of course I had to sing "Please Come Home for Christmas." I can't imagine Christmas without it! Now you can include my crying version.

Also, one of my favorite Christmas songs is "I Wonder As I Wander" and thanks to another ingenious arrangement by Jesse and Zach, it's also on the album in Celtic glory!

As a songwriter, this year there is a new Christmas song for you from me! I co-wrote "Santa Blues" with Justin Jensen. And we actually have a few more songs in the works, so you can look forward to those!

Last year I discovered a hep little tune "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus"so I just had to record it. Don't you think everyone should dig Santa Claus?!!

I've got the album cover picture picked out. We're working on the design now. Can you visualize me smiling with my eyes open?! Having a large mouth is all the better to sing with! And this will be the first "smile cover" of my career! Hopefully, there will be many more!

I Wonder As I Wander

I am almost bursting with excitement!

Jazzy Christmas To You II! is almost ready for mastering! We made a last-minute addition of I Wonder As I Wander to the album. I have always loved I Wonder As I Wander, but each time I've tried to perform or record it, it never came out the way I envisioned...until now!

Jesse Quebbeman-Turley and Zach Wiggins created a beautiful drums/piano/voice arrangement. Tonight I record my vocal overdubs and I am stoked! The arrangement is haunting yet fresh and has a decidedly Celtic flair.

Check out recording photos and stay tuned for more music!

Recording and All that Prep!

This is from recording in April...looking forward to tomorrow's session!

Tomorrow we switch gears from mixing to recording!

I've been getting charts ready for months. Tomorrow's session is going to be for a jazz standards album to be released in 2013. Haven't decided on a title yet...but rest assured it will be a good one.

Erik is getting the equipment ready, making sure all of it is in shape for tomorrow. He cleaned his Yamaha M406 mixer with 6 Class-A preamps it was modded and his Gallien-Krueger MB150E bass amp with DeoxIt D5. He also lubed the faders on his Mackie CR1604-BLZ Mixer with DeoxIt F5.

We will be trying out some new mics that Erik borrowed from a friend. Usually I use my Neumann KMS 105, but we thought we might try out the Shure KSM 9 tomorrow, too. I've used it in live performances that were multi-tracked, but never for this kind of recording. Other mics we are trying are the Audix SCX25A and the Audix D6!

Even though normally used for vocal overdubs in a large room or just an untreated room, we're going to try out in a "live" situation our new MXL RF-100 Reflection Filter tomorrow. It may not work, but it's worth a try to help isolate the vocal and drum mics from picking up sounds they shouldn't!

Jesse Quebbeman-Turley is coming by tonight to set up his drums so we are ready to start in the morning!

Zach Wiggins is back on keyboard and we have a new-comer on bass: Josh Larsen! James Archibald has been my loyal bassist for six years, but he is now in Texas after finishing his Master's in Physics. Going to miss you, James, but welcome Josh!

Stay tuned for pictures and audio!