This review is from: Imani Winds: This Christmas (Audio CD) Imani Winds is an African American Wind Quintet based in New York.
The are an amazing group as comfortable with classical as jazz.
And both styles are well represented in "This Christmas."
This Christmas features special guest artists Jason Moran, pianist, James Genus, bassist, Nate Smith, drummer and Javier Diaz, percussionist. and includes brand new arrangements by Imani Winds' own Valerie Coleman and Jeff Scott.
Nearly every track is a traditional "Christmas" tune but there is nothing traditional about the arrangements.
Silent Night is a bluesy, gospel approach with a touch of Duke Ellington thrown in.
The Holly And The Ivy is simply beautiful -- no one steps on anyone and yet, you hear every instrument entirely.
It is chic to cover ChristmasTime Is Here (from the Charlie Brown cartoon). And Imani WInds do cover it. But the arrangement is light and fun and certainly their own.
Go Tell It On The Mountain features a new orleans arrangement that would make wynton marsalis proud.

This is a beautiful CD. Simple and beautiful.
It's everything the YoYo Ma CD, Songs of Joy And Peace, should've been.