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LEDISI DELIVERS CHRISTMAS CHEER ON NEW CD: Jazz siren's 'It's Christmas' out now.
*Oakland native Ledisi brings her own brand of all-ages Christmas music this holiday season.
"It's Christmas" is a multi-textured musicfest, set oceans apart by gutsy re-inventions of seasonal jazz and pop standards (and a few well-written originals).
If this is your introduction to Ledisi, it's probably because only one major label album from the neo-soul singer preceeds this one (2 time 2007 Grammy-nominated "Lost and Found"), but by comparison "It's Christmas" is every bit as ambitious as the first project from the brazen belter.
What began as 4 holiday songs to be released online, turned into a12-song undertaking that was recorded in 3 days between LA and Nashville. Ledisi said she wanted the album to be unpredictable. It is.
"It's Christmas" lavishly re-defines Christmas music with the attitude imbued by the energy that music innovators radiate. All-star producers Rex Rideout, George Duke, Lorenzo Johnson and Luther "Mano" Hanes were all able to shape the siren's daring instrument into an impressive presentation that offers Smooth Jazz, R&B, Blues and Gospel.
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The strength of this project is its diversity. It would be the perfect accompaniment to many social gathering ... an office party, tree-trimming, holiday ball, or to spice up a church Christmas play.
The ethereal opening, "I'll Go" was arranged and produced by gospel veteran Richard Smallwood and what sounds like Smallwood's group Vision is Ledisi unbelievably navigating the song alone, pulling tones from the lowest and highest regions of her vocal range.
From there "It's Christmas" is a tailspin of twinkling intepretations. She dives into "Children Go Where I Send Thee" with sassy scat licks accompanied by heavy drum and guitar beats suitable for a juke joint. Get ready to spin again on the retro-flavored, danceable "Be There For Christmas" reminiscent of The Supremes.
Check out tracks from Ledisi's 'It's Christmas':
"This Christmas Could Be The One" is a jazz-infused mediation on being apart at Christmas, co-written by Lorenzo Johnson with military couples in mind. Her treatment of "Silent Night" (driven by the pizzacotto of an upright bass and drum) and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (backed by a mellow jazz groove perfect for stepping) are refreshing. Ledisi sings the blues the way you feel them ("Please Come Home for Christmas") and exhuberantly expresses feel good songs that capture the spirit of Christmas ("Give Love on Christmas Day" and Louis Armstong's "What A Wonderful World.") Ledisi releases all her grit on the last song a funky, vintage Roland Organ driven, gutter-bucket gospel track called "Thank you" that could easily find its way to the top of gospel charts as a single.
This album lacks nothing and is drenched with every bit of passion the songstress displays on "Lost and Found."
"It's Christmas" is as emotionally convincing as it is musically superb and is not diminisehd by the occasional imbalance of singer/accompaniment authority.
Ledisi's "It's Christmas" Tour Dates:
December 4 - Carolina Theater - Durham, NC
December 5 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA
December 7 - Dillard University - New Orleans, LA
December 10 - El Rey - Los Angeles, CA
December 11-14 - Yoshi's - San Francisco, CA
December 16 - Dedry Experience - Chicago, IL
December 18 - Fillmore - Detroit, MI
December 19 - BB King's - New York, NY
December 20 - Keswick Theatre - Philadelphia, PA
December 22-23 - Rams Head - Annapolis, MD
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