You don’t have to be from the South to appreciate the regional flavor of elegant New Orleans. Putumayo’s collections are wonderful mood and background music. New Orleans Christmas, with its smooth, big band sounds is ideal for this season’s Christmas parties, especially if the hosts happen to be serving gumbo or jambalaya.
New Orleans Christmas includes 11 classic Christmas songs that have been spiced up by the best from the Crescent City. Most of the tracks are in the older New Orleans music style with “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “White Christmas” bringing a modern feel to the swingy collection. New Orleans Christmas also includes traditional New Orleans songs that have been warmed with a holiday vibe, such as “Santa’s Second Line” where tambourines and trumpets blend Christmas flavor into a New Orleans marching song.
Throughout New Orleans Christmas the equilibrium between holiday music and regional sounds is harmonious and seamless. James Andrews’ trumpet version of “Christmas in New Orleans” is reminiscent of Louis Armstrong, and pianist Ellis Marsalis and his son, drummer Jason Marsalis, contribute a bebop departure from early sounds in “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” The whole collection delivers variety, one of New Orleans’ finest artistic hallmarks, with sounds that switch effortlessly between R&B, country, swing, blues, and jazz influences.
There are many reasons why listeners will enjoy this collection of traditional Christmas songs, but one of the most rewarding may not be a matter of music. A portion of the proceeds from New Orleans Christmas will be donated to the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians Village Project, a construction of 81 homes for New Orleans musicians who were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Not only is this a timely act of charity, but it also enables listeners to support the future production of New Orleans jazz. After all, it is the season for giving, and there is so much reason to give!
