20 Nov. 2013 - Nashville, Tenn - If you're not there yet, it's certainly time to get in the Christmas spirit with David Ian's Vintage Christmas Wonderland. As the follow up to his highly acclaimed 2011 release Vintage Christmas, Ian's latest offerings of even more jazzy classic holiday tunes continue to bring fresh and swinging arrangements. Yet again he captures a vintage sound, one that harks back to classic jazz and Christmas LP's of the 1950's and you'll surely be humming to these tunes all through the holiday season.
Stellar reviews have been pouring in from the Wall Street Journal, to Critical Jazz to JesusFreakHideout, and more. Read a few review clips that have already posted:
"With jazzy downtown sophistication...Ian's beckoning keyboard introductions grab the ear while his arrangements seduce the heart. Fireplace snap from a postmodern Vince Guaraldi." - Wall Street Journal
"Start up the fire, go get a blanket, put a cup of hot chocolate in your hand, and sit back to start this Christmas season off right with David Ian and the gang." - JesusFreakHideout.com
"Vince Guaraldi is gone and he is not coming back, luckily we have David Ian. An absolute must for the Christmas season!" - CriticalJazz
"After overwhelming enthusiasm that came from my debut album Vintage Christmas, I felt energized to explore more Christmas music," David Ian explains. "Songs I've chosen for the new EP include two instrumentals: a mellow and swinging rendition of 'O Little Town Of Bethlehem' and 'The First Noel,' featuring a melodic bass solo by Jon Estes. The familiar sound of the vocalists stay true to the Vintage Christmas brand in 'Angels We Have Heard on High' and 'Winter Wonderland,' with a slight departure in 'Jingle Bells.'" "Jingle Bells," the EP's final track, is confidentally led by Andre Miguel Mayo and decorated by the classic and energetic harmonies of Tal and Acacia who also appeared on Vintage Christmas. Each song easily captures the spirit of the season with an intimate sound that's warm and inviting. Already preparing for the next holiday, David Ian has prepared his next EP, Valentine's Day. Ready for the most romantic holiday of the year, Valentine's Day will be available in early 2014.
ABOUT DAVID IAN:
David Ian was born in Toronto, Canada to Armenian immigrant parents, came early to music, beginning in classical piano when he was five, with just a few years later knowing that this was his life's calling. He performed in a number of garage bands throughout his school years, and after graduating from college he became lead guitarist in the acclaimed band Church of Rhythm, the group that eventually morphed into the even more successful and GRAMMY-nominated rock group Superchick.
But Ian wasn't just a rock star. He began his love with jazz in his early teens. He studied jazz piano with noted teacher Pat Pace, and joined with fellow students to help initiate the jazz lab curriculum at his high school in Akron, Ohio. When he conceived the idea of recording these Christmas records, he drew inspiration from two legendary jazz pianists. "I tried to capture some of the essence of the gorgeous voicing and phrasing of Bill Evans in his interpretations of ballads, as well as the festive approach of Vince Guaraldi, particularly his injection of the blues."
Ian's first Christmas EP, Vintage Christmas
While dozens of Christmas albums are released each year, the most evocative ones are often those made by jazz musicians. This should come as no surprise, since the emotional primacy in the best jazz music echoes the spirituality inherent in the best Christmas songs. Jazz and Yuletide music have a long and complementary history, from Chet Baker's Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas to Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas to Wynton Marsalis' Crescent City Christmas Card. Taking proud place in this music lineage is David Ian Vintage Christmas and Vintage Christmas Wonderland, which breathes new life into a set of familiar Christmas classics in relaxed, swinging arrangements that capture the spirit of the season while respecting the sanctity of the material. Take one listen and you're guaranteed to have yourself a swinging little Christmas.
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