Various Artists – Walking in a Winter Wonderland
9 tracks
Nola Blue Records offers up a new Christmas album for 2024 and it’s another great holiday classic! Featuring a host of super artists, these nine tracks showcase the label’s cadre of fine artists singing and playing a mix of classic and cool holiday songs.
“I Want Some Christmas Cheer” is a very funky cut with Benny Turner on bass and vocals and Jack Miele on guitar and it’s a super opener for an excellent set of Christmas cuts. The hymn “Go Tell It On The Mountain” follows with Trudy Lynn on vocals, Steve Krase on harp and a great band backing them in this Gospel number with passionate vocals and some greasy harp. Jump blues styled “Slim Down Santa” is a cool rendition with Jim Koeppel on guitar and vocals and some cool horn and piano respectively by Gene “Daddy G” Barge and Tennyson Stephens. Mrs. C. might appreciate Santa’s slim down even more that his reindeer do!
“River” is next with Tiffany Pollack and Eric Johanson fronting the band. Johanson and Jack Miele handle axe work on this somber and soulful rendition. “Christmas On Bourbon Street” Features Gregg Martinez singing, another soulful piece, this time about the holiday in the Crescent City. Up next is “That’s What I Want For Christmas,” another soulful and reflective song. Here we have Sugar Ray Norcia on harp and vocals, Marty Ballou on bass, Ricky Russell on guitar and Bobby Christina on the skins. The harp here is emotive and slick as Norcia and company deliver a winner.
Frank Bey and Anthony Paule give a heartfelt performance here in “Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday.” Loralee Christensen adds passionate backing vocals and the horns and B3 give it their all; I think this is my favorite cut on the album. Then it’s time for “Christmas” soul with Clarence Spady on vocals and guitar. He and the band lay out a slick groove; Dave Archer on organ and piano help set the tone. The album concludes with “Funky Mistletoe” with Willie J. Laws on vocals and guitar and Roberto Morbioli also on guitar. They keep the funk going with this soulful cut that grabs the listener.
Another holiday winner is delivered by Nola Blue Records. I loved the album a will add it to my regular Christmas and holiday rotation. Download this today!
