As is probably obvious to everyone by now, Christmas is not going to be the same this year. With the pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, and with traveling still not a good idea, the holidays are going to be tough and lonesome for a lot of people. Many of us won’t be going home for Christmas this year. We are going to need some help getting through the holiday season, and there are musicians ready to provide that help. The pandemic doesn’t seem to have impeded the release of new Christmas albums, and this music ought to help folks get into a more festive mood. Jazz pianist and composer Gabriel Latchin’s new holiday album, I’ll Be Home For Christmas, features mostly classic holiday material, but there is also an original composition. The Gabriel Latchin Trio is made up of Gabriel Latchin on piano, Dario Di Lecce on bass, and Josh Morrison on drums.
This disc opens with a cool rendition of “Winter Wonderland” that has a bit of swing to it, and a lot of style. There is an enjoyable and solid groove to this version, and Gabriel’s piano work has plenty of cheer. This is a hipper wonderland than you might be used to, and it is one that I would like to visit often. Opening with this track is like opening a door to that delicious wonderland, where the rest of the album takes place. “Winter Wonderland” is followed by a rendition of “Jingle Bells” that surprised me when it began. I have to say here that “Jingle Bells” is not one of my favorite Christmas songs, with its rather lame set of lyrics, but this version is hopping from the start. Gabriel Latchin found something wonderful within this song and was able to coax it out and make it dance and move for us. There is a great freedom to his playing. There is also a good lead on bass halfway through, and even a drum solo toward the end, which I love.
Gabriel Latchin’s rendition of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” is played with a delightful warmth, and the pianist puts his own nice touches on it. And after a bit, the band starts to dig into this song and find a good groove, and things start cooking. This ends up being one heck of a good version. It’s followed by “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” the album’s title track, a fitting song for this year’s holiday, with the lines “I’ll be home for Christmas/If only in my dreams.” Gabriel Latchin’s approach is gentle and loving. This track has a late-night vibe, a track to listen to while curled up next to the fireplace, or near some candles, dreaming of home and our loved ones. Then Gabriel Latchin gives us the album’s sole original composition, “A Toast To Friends.” This one too has warmth and a sense of joy. This year has certainly made us all take a look at our priorities, and one thing that most of us consider at the top of that list is our friendships. It would be a much harsher existence without those important people in our lives, and this song raises a glass to those folks, celebrates friendship. It features a really good lead on bass. There is a light vibe about it, and this track should bring a smile to your face, even if you can’t be with friends this holiday season.
“The Christmas Song” begins sweetly and gently with some beautiful solo piano work, in line with what you might normally expect from the song. Then after a minute or so, the other guys come in, and things become happier, more lively. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard this sort of rhythm applied to this song before, and it works. Plus, there is a cool drum solo toward the end, one of my favorite parts of this rendition. “White Christmas” also begins with some solo work on piano, which is quite pretty and comforting. When the others come in, the piano retains that feel, the bass and drums adding to it, but not taking the song in a markedly different direction. That’s followed by “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” which begins largely the way to which you are likely accustomed. Then after a nearly a minute, the style and pace change, and the track gets more interesting. Things start moving, even hopping a bit, in large part because of Josh Morrison’s work on drums. Then toward the end it slows down, returning to that main, familiar theme.
Gabriel Latchin delivers a good rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” As Judy Garland sings in the original version of this song, “Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.” This is what we wish for everyone this holiday, isn’t it? And we’ll have a pretty good idea tomorrow if our troubles here in the U.S. will be gone next year. There is always a warmth, and yet a sadness to this song, which makes it a perfect choice for this year’s holiday season. Gabriel Latchin’s playing is warm and beautiful. Close your eyes and listen to this track, and you can imagine your loved ones around you, smiling at you, raising a glass of wine. That’s followed by “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which is my least favorite Christmas song, though largely because of its awful, even cruel lyrics. If you’re curious, I’ve posted an analysis of this song, which you can read here. Of course, the song’s terrible lyrics don’t play a part in this instrumental rendition. This version moves at a good clip, and features some delicious work on bass, and even an unusual drum solo which, to my delight, is allowed to go on longer than you’d expect. The album concludes with “Silent Night,” here given a good groove, while also retaining its beauty. This rendition has a bright, enjoyable feel. It fades out, leaving the impression that the holiday is continuing.
CD Track List
- Winter Wonderland
- Jingle Bells
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- I’ll Be Home For Christmas
- A Toast To Friends
- The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
- White Christmas
- God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Silent Night
I’ll Be Home For Christmas is scheduled to be released on December 4, 2020 through Alys Jazz.
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