Review and More

Our Review

Danny Colfax Mallon wraps four new Christmas songs inside his new holiday effort, Fireside Night. Along with the title track, the new songs include Blitzen's Bolero, See Ya 'Round Christmastime, and Comet's Moonbeam.

In addition to regaling listeners with clever originals, Danny has also included his playful, sometimes synthesized takes on traditional and popular favorites. Of these, I enjoyed his bluesy keyboard and harmonica stylings on Merry Christmas, Baby best. This one song is worth the price of the CD, as far as I am concerned. I also liked his version of Happy Xmas. And See Ya 'Round Christmastime (which I had not heard before) was a pleasant surprise, too.

Danny Colfax Mallon is clearly a character, and his is a quirky offering, to be sure. It gets its message heard by not taking itself too seriously and by just putting itself out there. Its likeability is enhanced by having a couple of serious quality tracks in the middle.

Aloha, Danny, from Christmasreviews.com.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2005)

Our Review

From the moment you spot Danny Colfax Mallon's beaming face on the cover of his Fireside Night, you know this jubilant fellow is having some serious fun and is overbrimming with the holiday cheer. Having entertained audiences for more than 30 years, Mallon pumps considerable enthusiasm and humor into this off-beat offering.

The dozen tracks include four Mallon originals. His delightful (but terribly short) instrumental "Blitzen's Bolero" reflects the artist's strong keyboard skills and made me long to hear more. "See Ya 'Round Christmastime" and "Fireside Night" both have a sweet, wistful quality. The album closes with its longest track; Mallon's "Comet's Moonbeam" is a somewhat mysterious, synthesized ride.

The eight holiday standards on Fireside Night reflect some fun moments. The boogie-woogie drive of "Winter Wonderland" had me swinging big-time in my seat. And I swear that there were Merry Munchkins singing on "The Wassail Song," a number I wish I saw more often on holiday releases. Mallon's raspy, textured vocal and howlin' harmonica on the bluesy "Merry Christmas Baby" make that cut my clear favorite on the album.

After only 29 minutes, Fireside Night slides to a close. This offering radiates Danny Colfax Mallon's joy for the Christmas season--a joy that is infectious. Merry Christmas!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Bill Susman, Piano
Randy Whiting, Bass
Grant Smith, Drums

When we were shooting the video for the Play Like Me Instructional Holiday DVD, Randy and I talked about how it would be fun to play the songs with the Bill Susman Trio. We took the 12 songs I had arranged for the Holiday Collection and played them as full-fledged jazz performance pieces.

My performance of these holiday songs are an homage to the great pianists who have inspired me over the years, from the swinging solos and block chords of Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner, Red Garland and Gene Harris, to the lyricism and intricate harmony of Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock, not to mention the modal lines of McCoy Tyner and last, but not least, the bluesy riffs of the great San Francisco pianist Vince Guaraldi.

We recorded these songs in one evening with most of the tunes on the first take, thus keeping it fresh and spontaneous like a live perfornmance. It was my pleasure to work with bassist Randy Whiting and drummer Grant Smith. Right from the first down beat, it felt relaxed and easy like we'd been playing these songs for years.

I'd like to thank them for helping me create such an upbeat and swinging version of these well-known--and worn--holiday songs. Well, with the success of this recording we just may be playing these for years to come!
Bill Susman
San Francisco, California

All songs produced and arranged by Bill Susman and Play Like Me Music
Co-production assistance: Tim Volpicella and Brownstone Productions
Recorded and mixed at Open Path Studios, San Jose
Engineered b y Robert Areolla. Mastered at Open Path Studios
Illustration and design by Brownstone Productions

Danny Colfax Mallon

Fireside Night

Artist link

Track List