Home for the Holidays- Album Review
by Scott Yanow, Jazz Journalist / Historian
Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous 8
Home For The Holidays
Angela O’Neill and her Outrageous 8 perform 14 beloved Christmas songs on their latest outing. Ms. O’Neill grew up in a musical family and originally studied classical music, playing oboe, flute and saxophone. In high school she became very attracted to swinging jazz and developed a love for singing with big bands. In recent times she has sung with the Angel City Big Band and the Woody James Orchestra. In 2017 she formed the Outrageous 8 and they soon made their debut recording Live at the VW.
Many of the best Christmas albums have been recorded during the heat of summer and Home For The Holidays is no exception. In August in the midst of the Covid pandemic, somehow bandleader Angela O’Neill was able to gather together the members of the Outrageous 8 in the backyard of Al Timss (with social distancing of course) and record this entire album during two warm days, without any editing or overdubbing.
With the inventive arrangements of trombonist Harry Smallenburg (other than “The Christmas Song” which was arranged by Rocky Davis), the eight instrumentalists sound very much like a big band, clearly inspiring the leader and her two guest vocalists Al Timss and Jackie Gibson. “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” serves as a happy beginning, introducing Angela O’Neill’s strong and attractive voice (which has a wide range) and the complementary horns. “Feliz Navidad,” which is always a joyful song, is heard in a charming version that features the two guest singers. “Silent Night” is given a respectful and lightly swinging treatment while “Winter Weather,” a lesser-known but infectious song that was performed in the 1950s by Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee, receives a welcome revival.
Jackie Gibson is featured on “Jingle Bells,” Angela O’Neill is showcased on a heartfelt version of “The Christmas Song,” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is heard in an energetic and playful rendition by Angela and Al Timss. The Outrageous 8 gets to cut loose a bit during instrumental versions of “Funky Drummer Boy” and “We Three Kings” (renamed “We Be Kings”) with several of the horn players (most notably baritonist Richard Walker) taking concise solos. Al Timss’ warm voice is heard at its best on “Blue Christmas,” “Let It Snow” is given a brief and witty version, and “Silver Bells” has all three singers joining in; the waltz shifts to 4/4 time for its instrumental section. Angela and Al Timss create another memorable duet on “Winter Wonderland” before the set concludes with “Rudolph’s Mindfulness,” an inventive reworking of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
Home For The Holidays is a delightful and creative set of Yuletide favorites that is sure to be a hit during every Christmas season.
Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian