Late last year, Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti gave audiences one heck of a surprise when he released his collection of Frank Sinatra covers, Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra. One would have thought right off the bat that there was no way a hard rock guitarist would possibly have the vocal chops of someone the caliber of Frank Sinatra but in listening to the covers collection, the exact opposite proved the case. Now more than a year after that record’s release, Tremonti has taken the big band that he employed for the collection for another covers set, this time, a collection of holiday tunes in the form of Christmas Classics New & Old. Due out Oct. 27 through Janus Music Management, the 10-song collection further ensures Tremonti’s potential future in the jazz community should he ever decide to step away from the rock realm. That is proven both through the covers that he and his fellow musicians tackle throughout the 31-minute presentation and the one original, ‘Christmas Morning,’ which will be examined shortly. An equally surprising entry in this record is the cover of ‘This Christmas.’ The funky mid-tempo piece will be examined a little later as will that of the timeless ‘The Christmas Song.’ All three of these covers are prime examples of what makes this holiday covers collection worth hearing. When they are considered along with the likes of Tremonti and company’s take on songs, such as ‘O Holy Night,’ ‘The First Noel’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and the rest of the collection’s entries, the whole makes Christmas Classics New & Old another solid example of Mark Tremonti’s vocal talents as well as the talents of the musicians who backed him once again.
Christmas Classics New & Old, the forthcoming holiday covers collection from Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti is another presentation that exhibits his talent as a jazz vocalist, further proving that he has a good future outside of the rock community. That talent is put partially on display in the record’s lone original from Tremoni, ‘Christmas Morning.’ Composed by Tremonti, the subtle use of the strings alongside Tremonti’s gentle vocals in the song’s opening bars paints such a rich picture of young children looking out a window on the night before Christmas, anxiously awaiting the big day as the sun sets outside. The Normal Rockwell-esque painting that the group paints is enriched as the song progresses with the equally gentle use of the saxophone alongside the strings and the subtle use of the brush on the snare and even the choir style backing vocals. The momentary march that is used at one point hints at the famed ‘Little Drummer Boy’ as part of the whole, making the song even more engaging and entertaining. The song’s overall lyrical theme, which celebrates the family waking up together on Christmas morning is so commonplace but the way in which Tremonti and his backing vocalists deliver the story makes for its own share of heartwarming emotion. It is a great original that stands firmly on its own merits here.
Another interesting addition to the collection is the cover of Donny Hathaway’s 1970 single, ‘This Christmas.’ The song is a staple of so many homes’ holiday music libraries and can be heard on radio stations and holiday parties nationwide to this day. Where Hathaway’s original just barely tops the four-minute mark (it runs four minutes, nine seconds to be exact), Tremonti and company’s version is much shorter, clocking in at three-and-a-half minutes. Tremonti and company’s rendition stays largely true to its source material, giving audiences such a fun, funky foundation, just as in the original song. The flares from the horns and the staccato guitar work takes listeners right back to the original song and gives audiences such a great holiday vibe. When Tremonti hits some of those high notes, the control that he exhibits proves impressive in its own right. The piano solo that kicks in roughly two minutes into the song is an interesting little touch, too. Overall, Tremonti and his fellow performers put together another nice cover here, too. What’s more, placing it as the record’s finale is a nice companion to the record’s equally upbeat opener and contrast to the slower more somber material that comes later in the record’s run. It is just one more example of what makes this forthcoming covers set worth hearing.
‘The Christmas Song,’ made famous and timeless so many decades ago by none other than Nat “King” Cole, is yet another example of how much this record has to offer audiences. Just as any musician can play fast and loud but it takes a true musician to play slowly, quietly, and with control, that also applies to vocalist and Tremonti’s vocal talent really shines in that case here. His vocals, alongside the gentle saxophone line, piano, and steady time keeping on the snare drum with the brushes, are right on par with those of Cole. He is that surprisingly talented here, showing so much control both in regard to dynamics and just sheer warmth and depth. The vibrato that he incorporates is incredible and accented just as well with the soft sax solos that serve as the response to his call of sorts. No doubt the whole of the song is sure to become another favorite from this collection, taking all of this and more into account throughout the song. When this cover and the others examined here are considered along with the rest of the collection’s featured covers, the whole makes Christmas Classics New & Old a welcome addition to this year’s field of annual holiday music field.
Christmas Classics New & Old, the new holiday music covers collection from Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti is another surprisingly engaging and entertaining work from Tremonti. As with his previously released Sinatra covers set, it further puts on display his talents as a jazz vocalist while also continuing to exhibit the talent of his fellow musicians, who also performed on that noted covers set. Whether through his own original, which is examined here or through the nine covers that surround it, each track offers something to warm audiences’ hearts this and any holiday season. That is because while the collective stays true to the songs’ source material, they also give the songs their own subtle, unique touch that makes them enjoyable from one to the next. All things considered they make Christmas Classics New & Old a welcome addition to this year’s field of holiday music collections.
Christmas Classics New & Old is scheduled for release Friday through Janus Music Management. More information on the collection is available along with all of Mark Tremonti’s latest news at:
Website: https://marktremonti.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/marktremonti
