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I'll Be Home for Christmas is classic in every sense of the word. First, the David Leonhardt Jazz Group is a classic jazz ensemble of the highest order; everything about it exudes superb musicianship. These five talented artists (David Leonhardt on piano, Nancy Reed providing vocals, Larry McKenna on sax, Matthew Parrish on bass, and Taro Okamoto on drums) are consummate professionals, meshing comfortably like one seamless organism. The music selection is also classic; the 15 pieces on this generous (over an hour of music!) album cover a broad range of largely secular favorites. And the sound is naturally class jazz, through and through!

Five of the 15 cuts have vocals, and Nancy Reed's mellow, soulful stylings add just the right touch. She is especially fine on the richly rewarding "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and on the delightfully rhythmic "Sleigh Ride" (great drumming!). The David Leonhardt Jazz Group does everything extremely well, so designating "Top Hits" is extremely tough. Even so, the most memorable moments for me included the syncopated, samba-soaked "Jingle Bells," the exotic "We Three Kings" with jammin' piano improvisations, and the superb sax melody on the title track "I'll Be Home for Christmas." It's all good.

Jazz aficionados will flip for the David Leonhardt Jazz Group's I'll Be Home for Christmas. It's a classic!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

David Leonhardt - piano
Nancy Reed - vocals
Larry McKenna - saxophone
Matthew Parrish - bass
Taro Okamoto - drums

I have wanted to do a Christmas CD for a long time. When the holiday season rolls around I am always happy to play these melodies from my childhood. These songs and arrangements are audience favorites we play in our Winter Holiday Jazz Concert program.

This group has played together for years and is my favorite band to play with. Nancy Reed has a beautiful voice and sings each song with a naturalness that omes from the heart. Larry McKenna is the dean of Philadelphia saxophonists and is in all respects a perfect player. Taro Okamoto and I have been playing together for over twenty five years and this drumming is always a source of excitement and inspiration. Matthew Parrish has a beautiful tone, a big beat and an intuitive understanding of what jazz bass playing is all about.

We hope this CD achieves both the spirit of Christmas and theexcitement of a live jazz performance.
--David Leonhardt

From the Web site:

Christmas music from a jazz point of view. A selecton of holiday melodies played by a burning rhythm section, with soulful sax and vivacious vocals.

David Leonhardt, jazz pianist and composer, is a highly skilled and versatile musician. His twenty five years of professional experience has included recordings, T.V. and radio, concerts and festivals, night clubs and stage shows. He has appeared internationally throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East. Recently Mr. Leonhardt arranged and recorded the #1 jazz CD "Under a Woodstock Moon" with saxophonist David Newman, appeared with flutist Herbie Mann and bassist Ron Carter on the CD "Celebration".

The David Leonhardt Jazz Group

I'll Be Home for Christmas

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Track List