Halloween has officially come and gone once again and with the continuation of the annual holiday season once again underway, it won’t be long before the sounds of Christmas start filling stores and the airwaves along with the sights of the season already filling store shelves. On Nov. 16, John Paul McGee’s new holiday compilation, A Gospejazzical Christmas, will join the ranks of the many Christmas music collections that hit store shelves ever year around this time of year. The 11-song record proves an interesting presentation because of its pairing of commonly and less commonly covered holiday tunes. Of the lesser commonly covered works featured here is ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain,’ which will be examined shortly. ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ is obviously one of the more commonplace covers featured in so many holiday collections, but it is about the only overly commonplace cover that McGee features here next to ‘O Holy Night.’ The way in which he covers that prior piece is so engaging and entertaining and makes it a work that audiences will love despite being so overly familiar. This will be addressed a little later. ‘What Child Is This?’ is another familiar work but one that is honestly not overly featured in holiday collections. That is because there are few if any ways to actually improve on the overly somber song. Somehow though, McGee has succeeded in improving on the original here and in turn deserves his praise on this work, too. It will also be addressed later. Each song addressed here does its own part to make John Paul McGe’’s new holiday collection interesting. When they are considered along with the likes of ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ and ‘Jesus What A Wonderful Child,’ that whole and the rest of the album’s entries make the record an intriguing addition to this year’s field of new holiday music collections.
A Gospejazzical Christmas, the new forthcoming holiday music set from Berklee College of Music Assistant Chair of Piano, John Paul McGee, is a presentation that anyone looking for a fitting musical mood this season will want to hear. Each of its 11 featured songs prove that in their own way, the most notable of which being the record’s finale, the cover of ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain.’ Performed vocally because of its bluesy, soulful presentation. The gospel influence noted in the collection’s title is also there but is so controlled throughout the arrangement. The simple, less is more approach that McGee takes on this song’s cover and his smooth vocals are proof positive that more often than not, a person really can do more with less and succeed along the way. Simply put it is the biggest surprise of the record and a most welcome surprise at that.
McGee’s take of ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ is just one of the highlights featured in his new record. The cover of the timeless ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ is a highlight in its own way. That is due in part to McGee’s incredible vocal talent displayed here. The velvety smoothness and control of his deep baritone vocals here immediately conjure thoughts of Barry White and even a little bit of Nat “King” Cole. His slow, simple performance on the piano is accented expertly by the pairing of bassist Joel Powell and drummer Larry Wilson. Powell’s simple yet rich tones on the standup bass do just as much as McGee’s vocals to immerse audiences in the song while Wilson’s simple use of the brushes on his snare give just enough extra little touch as Wilson keeps time. The trio’s collective work makes this song such a great performance that one could easily be compared honestly to some of the best works of Cole. No doubt it is set to be a favorite among listeners.
As much as ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ does to add to this record’s interest, it is still just one more of the LP’s high points. The cover of ‘What Child Is This’ is yet another notable addition to the collection. It is notable because, as mentioned, there are few ways in which any act can really improve on the somber tone of the original song. Somehow though, McGee and his fellow musicians have found a way to actually make the song listenable (is that a real word?) in this case. Powell and Wilson join McGee once again here along with guitarist Patrick Arthur for a truly unique take on the song. The collective’s smooth jazz approach here lends itself to comparison to something one might expect fs with whom he works on his records. The musicians with whom he works on his records. The familiar tone of the source material is there. One should not ignore that fact, but somehow in keeping that sound there while building on it with a light, almost danceable sensibility (grounded in McGee’s performance on the piano), the group has actually made this a take on this public domain piece that is actually worth hearing. Considering that the song (also known as ‘Greensleaves’) is oftentimes the butt of many musicians’ jokes, McGee and company are to be applauded for actually making it respectable and possibly being the first group of musicians to ever do so at that. When this song is considered alongside the others examined here and with so many of the record’s other songs, the whole therein makes A Gospejazzical Christmas a presentation that deserves to be heard at least once this holiday season.
A Gospejazzical Christmas, the new forthcoming Christmas music compilation from pianist and Berklee College of Music professor John Paul McGee, is an intriguing addition to this year’s field of new seasonal music sets. That is proven from its opener to its surprisingly engaging and entertaining finale. Each of the songs examined here make that clear. When they are considered along with the rest of the record’s entries, the whole becomes a presentation that audiences will agree is worth hearing at least once this holiday season.
A Gospejazzical Christmas is scheduled for release Nov. 16 through Sugo Music Group. More information on the record is available along with all of John Paul McGee’s latest news at:
Website: https://www.johnpaulmcgee.com
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