Rich Willey: “Boptism Christmas” (2024) CD Review

Rich Willey is a trumpet player, band leader and composer who has written some cool big band tunes (you can hear them on Down & Dirty), dipped into funk (on Conspiracy), and played with a wide range of other artists. And now he turns to some traditional holiday fare on Boptism Christmas, putting his own great spin on these well-known numbers, taking some standard Christmas songs and making them jump and dance and move in ways you might not expect. All the arrangements on this album are by Rich Willey. Joining him on this release are Dylan Hannan on alto saxophone, Ashley Pritchard on tenor saxophone, Bill Reichenbach on trombone and bass trumpet, Alex Taub on piano and organ, Andy Page on guitar, Zack Page on upright bass and electric bass, and Justin Watt on drums, with guest Russ Wilson joining them on a couple of tracks.

The album gets off to a very cool start with “Merry Gentlemen Kings,” a medley of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “We Three Kings Of Orient Are.” This track begins like the Honk! fest version of Christmas music (for those folks in Boston), with horns and drums dominating the sound. It’s like a second line of Santas and dancing elves (for those in New Orleans) making their way down Christmas Tree Lane (for those in Los Angeles). I absolutely love this. Now if we could convince all department stores and restaurants to play this music, everyone could enjoy the holidays so much more. This track features a delightful guitar lead and then a drum solo because these guys are determined to make the holiday fun. That’s followed by a cheerful rendition of “White Christmas,” the brass section clearing a path through the snow for us to make our way merrily home. There is a wonderful section with guitar, bass and trumpet, coming as a surprise. The track continues to offer more delights after that section, different instruments leading the proceedings, taking turns, everyone in a festive and warm spirit.

Rich Willey gives “Silver Bells” a reggae rhythm, and it works surprisingly well. Maybe you don’t normally think of listening to Christmas music when you’re high, but maybe you should. Certainly now you can. Have a nice, relaxing holiday. Let the season’s stress roll away. This track features some great stuff on trumpet, as well as a cool lead on organ. This is a totally enjoyable arrangement of “Silver Bells.” Things turn warm and mellow with a cool late-night rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” It’s an instrumental rendition, but you get the feeling that were the vocals present, the original lyrics would be employed. No “shining star upon the highest bough” nonsense here. This is beautiful, and it makes me think we’ll manage to muddle through somehow. That guitar work seems to promise it, and the brass section helps lift us up, each instrument taking a turn, feeling like they are all part of some family yearning to be together. It’s a wonderful rendition.

The only song on the album to include vocals is “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Of all the possibilities, this is the one they chose to sing? Crazy. For this song has the worst set of lyrics of all the holiday songs. For those who don’t know, it’s about a bunch of cruel reindeer who feign affection for the weirdo of the group only when their overlord Santa shows him some favor. Bunch of sycophants led by a moron who couldn’t figure out how to rig up some sort of light to his flying sled. Anyway, that being said, Russ Wilson has a strong voice. And he does play around a bit with the lyrics at the beginning, adding some different names to the reindeer starting lineup: “Vito and Guido and Knuckles and Louie/Tommy and Dickie and Harry and Freddy.” This addition actually works quite well, since it is quickly established that the reindeer are not kind, upstanding citizens. Let’s face it, they’re little assholes. The band makes the song move, pumping some fresh life into it. That’s followed by “Little Drummer Boyz,” Russ Wilson now on drums. “Little Drummer Boy” has always been one of my personal favorites among the traditional holiday songs. Its subject gives the song plenty of opportunities for some fun playing. This rendition is particularly delicious. It features some really nice work on bass, in addition to some cool percussion. And, yes there is a drum solo, itself feeling like a cool conversation. This is one of my favorite tracks, definitely one to add to your holiday play list.

Rich Willey gives “The Christmas Song” a Latin vibe, and that rhythm is a large part of what gives this rendition such a good feeling about it. You know, I believe we’ll all be able to enjoy the holidays with this music playing. That’s followed by “What Child Is This?” and again, an instrumental version of “What Child Is This?” is simply “Greensleeves.” Anyway, this version kind of swings and has a cool bluesy big band thing happening. Part of its charm comes from the bass line, the rhythm. But there is also a great back and forth within the brass section, a conversation that feels like a dance. This track also includes a nice lead on piano. The album concludes with “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” another of the disc’s highlights. The bass plays a strong role in making this group’s rendition so damn good, but all the musicians have moments to shine here. I am especially fond of the lead on piano. It’s a great way to wrap up an excellent holiday album.

CD Track List

1. Merry Gentlemen Kings
2. White Christmas
3. Silver Bells
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Little Drummer Boyz
7. The Christmas Song
8. What Child Is This?
9. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Boptism Christmas was released on November 8, 2024.