"Christmas Is Being With You" by Larry McKenna (music) & Melissa Gilstrap (lyrics)
Vocals - Joanna Pascale
Tenor sax - Larry McKenna
Trumpet - George Rabbai
Trombone - Joe McDonough
Guitar - Pete Smyser
Piano - Tom Lawton
Bass - Lee Smith
Drums - Dan Monaghan
Arrangement - Larry McKenna
Video copyright 2016 by Melissa Gilstrap. All rights reserved.
From Larry McKenna's CD, "From All Sides" (2013) available at Amazon, iTunes and here:
www.cdbaby.com/cd/larrymckenna1
Here's what Larry McKenna wrote about this song in the CD liner notes:
"Every year at Christmastime, I experience the same sensations I did as a young boy. Christmas can be dark or light, sad or happy, even spooky at times (Charles Dickens). The first section of the tune with its slow tempo and brooding minor key reminded me of those seasonal scenes that show a lone house in the country on a winter night with perhaps one person making his way through the snow. 'Quiet cold night, quiet cold moon.' I can see the whole picture in my head. But then the scene brightens; 'Christmas is being with you.' Melissa's lyric depicts both moods, and Joanna's reading is absolutely perfect. Listen to Pete Smyser's warm guitar, Tom Lawton's sparse harmony on piano, and drummer Dan Monaghan's understated effects. The final chord is anchored by Lee W Smith's sonorous arco (bowed) bass note. How exciting it is for me as a composer to hear my ideas fully realized by such gifted artists. Jazz or not, why not include it in this collection?"
14 дек 2017
