Alison Brown's Evergreen: A New Christmas Tradition
The Captain | Bridgewater, MA | 11/21/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"We have perhaps all had the same dream as Alison Brown in one form or another. Pack it all away at the corporate desks we occupy, leave it all behind and head off into a whole new world of doing something you perhaps never dreamed possible. Brown decided to leave the corporate world behind and trade the staples and copy machines for a new work tool: her banjo.
Though many of us perhaps would never be as daring as Alison Brown was to simply change career paths and turn a passion for music into an actual career it is because of Brown's individual pursuits that we as music fans are all the better off. Perhaps almost a bit selfishly, music fans are far better off with Brown behind the strings of her banjo than behind a desk or walled away in a cubicle.
Brown brings a smooth and peaceful sound to her music and the focus of her banjo skills seems to focus greatly on a more methodical and calming banjo sound that truly tells a story simply through the instrumental music alone. Her music combines and amazing relaxing quality to a very motivated and driven sound that moves the listener into a very musically enlightened place.
Alison Brown has released a beautifully brilliant Christmas album entitled Evergreen that really should become a holiday season staple in most everyone's household. The music on the album is simply put ideal and is the quintessential album for a holiday car ride or to have playing at a holiday party. The soft and melodic nature of the album would also serve an office setting well as reception area music. In reality, the album is so well crafted that not only will it appeal to individuals with different music taste but it also could serve as the Christmas album to play for a variety of purposes.
Performing with Alison Brown (banjo) on this album are Joe Craven (fiddle, mandolin, percussion), John Burr (piano), Garry West (bass), David Heyer (drums) and Larry Atamanuik (drums).
From the beginning of the album the graceful seasonal tunes are immediately appreciated. On Carol and The Kings there is a modern twist infused into the Christmas song We Three Kings. There is a nice marriage of traditional sound enveloped by a more modern and personal take on the tune that truly makes this track shine.
Silver Bells is a remarkable rendition with much of the traditional Silver Bells purest sounds held off until the end of the track. There is a nice introduction of original music that leads up to the recognizable seasonal favorite.
A truly special treat on the album is when the University School of Nashville Middle School Chorale joins in with the band on two tracks to lend a vocal accompaniment to the album. One of these tracks is O'Carolan's/Welcome Christmas. Though much of the rest of the album is free of vocals and allows the instrumentation to tell the holiday stories, on this track in particular it is a brilliant way to allow the instrumentation to prove that it can indeed stand alongside a good vocal performance.
Musically there is perhaps nothing more Christmas than the images of being a young child and standing alongside your parochial school classmates singing Christmas carols. This track is almost a musical flashback to those simpler holiday memories.
Though the official track listing notes that the album has ten songs, make sure you hang on for a hidden track eleven in which Brown's daughter Hannah sings a very nice rendition of I'll Be Home for Christmas. Tying in family to the album is a creative way to emphasize in music what is the most important part of the season: spending time with our family and other loved ones.
Track listing:
Carol And The Kings
Sleigh RideTwo Santas
Christmas Don't Be Late
O'Carolan's/ Welcome Christmas
Skating/Feliz Navidad
Silver Bells
Let It Snow
Christmas Time is Here
The Little Drummer
Alison Brown certainly will impress just about anyone with her fantastic banjo skills and the group of musicians that accompany her on this album lend a great deal to the overall amazing sound that Brown can put out. A Christmas album is the perfect way to reach out to new listeners since so many of us associate the holidays with music and are always looking for a new Christmas album to play during the season.
Evergreen is a strong instrumental album that will not leave you disappointed. The music of Brown highlighted on this album is a testament to her passion for music and the immediate response from the listener is a strong appreciation for the talent that went into this album. Just as we all need a good cup of hot cocoa or a warm blanket to get us through the holidays we all also need a good bit of music to warm our spirits around Christmas. This album will do just that.
For more information about Alison Brown, check out her website at http://www.alisonbrown.net/."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1