Those who have been with Smooth Jazz Therapy for the long haul will recall that when it gets to this time of year, yours truly has been known to reveal a certain weakness for Christmas music played in a contemporary jazz style. Of course the secret of really great smooth jazz festive fare is in the originality that the artist brings to the music. One need only recall standout holiday releases from Brian Culbertson and Boney James to understand what good can look like while another fine example is the newly released two-CD collection from classically-trained pianist and vocalist Peggy Duquesnel. Titled ‘All I Ask For Christmas’ it features instrumentals on one disc, vocals on the other and, joy upon joy, four of Peggy’s original compositions. Not only that, with contributions from Brian Bromberg, Jay Leach, Brian Kilgore, Joe La Barbera and Rick Braun, this isn’t just a fine seasonal album, it’s a splendid jazz album.
Take for example one of Peggy’s own songs, the jazzily mellow ‘All I Ask For Christmas’ where Braun’s smoky flugelhorn captivates and is wonderfully in sync with Duquesnel’s picture perfect playing. Equally appealing is another Duquesnel original, the warmly inviting ‘Christmas Is Here’ while of the traditional tunes there is much to commend Peggy’s instrumental version of ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ that has been singled out for airplay on smooth jazz radio.
Duquesnel, who serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at Concordia University, really has come up with a collection that is sure to be dusted off every December for many years to come. So, get your Christmas started early and check it out.