Home for the Holidays Album Review by Herb Gore
Our sincere thanks to Herb Gore for his review of our Holiday Jazz Album, Home for the Holidays, produced by Outrageous8 Records and Angela O’Neill and the Outrageous8. A Christmas Jazz Album produced in 2020 and a collaboration of Los Angeles based musicians. Includes arrangements by Harry Smallenburg and Rocky Davis.
When I hear a new album of holiday music has been released, an unspoken thought is often what will this add to a well-populated genre. But that is definitely not the case with Home for the Holidays. Each number is lively and fun with a touch of the unexpected. It's hard not to keep from tapping one's foot, let alone start dancing to "Feliz Navidad" and "Let It Snow". Even the more "traditional" rendition of "The Christmas Song" has a park to it's wistfulness. And who could have a "Blue Christmas" listening to this version? "Little Drummer Boy" is not a favorite song of mine, but "Funky Drummer Boy" changed that and is probably the one I have listed to the most. "Rudolph's Mindfulness" provides a number of great solo moments that provide the different band members an opportunity to shine. "Home for the Holidays" will be on my holiday playlist for many years to come.