It takes a team to make a recording, even under normal circumstances. When you decide to do it in a pandemic you realize fast how important it is to collaborate with dedicated people who will go the extra mile when there are so many added obstacles to overcome. I was lucky to have just such a team for my new holiday release, ‘Merry Christmas’ and because of that it’s extra special to me.
I didn’t plan to release a single this year but in a pandemic and faced with so much loss and hardship I felt I needed to do it. ‘Merry Christmas’ is a lesser-known song that I’ve always loved for its charming tune and simple lyric. What really drew me is the subtle melancholy mood that underlies the cheery sentiment. It just felt like the right tone. The song first appeared in the MGM movie, ‘In the Good Old Summertime’ in 1949 and was sung by Judy Garland. This also appealed to me because it felt familiar without being overdone. Decision made!
Faced with such a tight timeline I was beyond lucky to connect with producer Danny Lapidus in New York who graciously fit me into his busy schedule. He pulled together an incredible group of musicians including the astonishingly talented Oz Noy on guitar. I get goosebumps every time I hear his solo, it’s so incredibly moving and I couldn’t ask for more. With some ‘heavy-hitters’ from Broadway joining in this dream band was complete, including Nadia DiGiallonardo on piano, Rich Mercurio on drums, Lee Nadel on bass, and Danny stepping in on sax. A sincere thanks to all of you 👏👏 ❤️
Working remotely and in isolation all the pieces fell into place separately, with the band in New York and me in LA. The final piece of the puzzle was for me to lay down my vocal and for that I owe my thanks to Nolan Shaheed at No Sound Studio for being such a supportive host at his recording studio, as always! Sanitized, responsibly distanced and wearing masks I felt safe and secure and ready to ‘roll and stroll’.
So there you have it. This recording has so much heart, care and love built into it. It feels like the perfect way to cap off such a long, hard year. Thanks again to all who helped. I hope everyone will find something meaningful and moving in it and I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season… and a ‘very, very Merry Christmas’ ♥️
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Please check out the video while you’re here:
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