Christmas with Friends
[Place of publication not identified] : Motown Records, [2015]
Format: Music CD
Description: 1 sound disc (36 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
While vocalist India.Arie and keyboardist Joe Sample worked on new songs that, in Arie's words, "weren't coming together as quickly as I wanted," Arie had the idea to shift direction and record a Christmas album -- something her mother had been wanting her to do. Sample's own family members had been asking the same from him, so he was happy to go along. In September 2014, while Christmas with Friends was being completed, Sample -- whose importance to jazz and R&B is difficult to overstate -- died of mesothelioma. He plays piano on four of the ten songs: the opening "Let It Snow," "Silent Night" (featuring Brandy), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (featuring Kem), and "The Christmas Song." It's unfortunate that Sample isn't heard more frequently, but the whole album is loose and lively, supported by drop-ins from contemporary gospel, jazz, pop, R&B, and rock artists, including Michael McDonald and Trombone Shorty. The backing musicians, such producer Aaron Lindsey, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Nathan East, are top-notch as well, and Arie ties it all together, switching between the spiritual and playful material with natural ease. ~ Andy Kellman
Other Authors:
Sample, Joe.
Kelly, Tori, 1992-
Brandy, 1979-
Kem.
McDonald, Michael, 1952-
Koz, Dave.
Andrews, Troy.
Dentley, Khristian.
Moore, Gene (Singer)
Whalum, Kirk.
Sample, Joe.
Kelly, Tori, 1992-
Brandy, 1979-
Kem.
McDonald, Michael, 1952-
Koz, Dave.
Andrews, Troy.
Dentley, Khristian.
Moore, Gene (Singer)
Whalum, Kirk.
Contents:
Let it snow (featuring Joe Sample) -- Favorite time of year (featuring Tori Kelly) -- Silent night (featuring Joe Sample & Brandy) -- Have yourself a merry little Christmas (featuring Joe Sample & KEM) -- Merry Christmas baby (featuring Michael McDonald) -- I've got my love to keep me warm (featuring Dave Koz & Trombone Shorty) -- The Christmas song (featuring Joe Sample) -- God rest ye merry gentlemen (featuring Khristian Dentley) -- Mary, did you know? (featuring Gene Moore) -- Auld lang syne (featuring Kirk Whalum).
UPC: 602537961047
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
CD HOLIDAY Ind | Sandhills Indoors | Holiday, Music CD | In |
CD HOLIDAY Ind | St. Andrews Indoors | Holiday, Music CD | In |
Compact disc.
Sound recording.
India.Arie ; Joe Sample ; with accompanying musicians.
Sound recording.
India.Arie ; Joe Sample ; with accompanying musicians.