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A wind quintet? You may have already stopped reading this review, but that would be a mistake. Just because Imani Winds is a classically capable wind ensemble, don't assume that This Christmas is some stuffy ol' classical compilation. Not at all! Imani Winds is an unusual and outstanding NYC-based wind ensemble, one well known for its adventurous spirit, colorful musicality, and creative ability to incorporate African and Latin American influences into its art. In other words, This Christmas successfully marries classical with jazz and world influences, creating the most marvelous musical meld. Terrific!

This seasonal album is generous (nearly an hour!), which means that each track, on average, runs four full minutes, allowing for meaningful development. The song selection ranges from the seriously sacred to the playfully secular, and all pieces are familiar favorites. Imani Winds attacks the gamut with ease, and all tracks shine.

The quintet includes bright voices (flute, piccolo), mid-level winds (clarinet, French horn), and throaty, soulful sounds (oboe, bassoon). Imani Winds' guest musicians provide percussive rhythms, as well as piano and bass support. The album opens innocently enough with a solo flute playing the melody line of Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella; as the bars progress, other wind instruments join. By the second verse, the boppin' percussion and syncopated rhythms take over, and what initially appeared to be a simple, straightforward execution has in fact blossomed into sophisticated, world-class fun. Before it's over, the first track covers more than six minutes, bursting with shifting tempos and tones--and setting the standard for what is to come. Brilliant!

Some cuts (like Sleigh Ride and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas) flourish under a classical/pop presentation; others, like the usually sedate Silent Night and the spirited gospel number Go Tell It on the Mountain, benefit from boogie-woogie jazz frameworks (including some amazing piano and blistering French horn on Silent Night). The Imani Winds' treatment of Carol of the Bells was reminescent of "West Side Story" (particularly the opening bars). The bass and exotic percussion opening of Let It Snow created the sense of a heavy snowfall beginning to build. Donny Hathaway's title track closes the offering with a more mellow, smooth jazz finish. It's a sweet package that keeps listeners on their toes from beginning to end.

I richly enjoyed exploring every cut on this album. On a cold, windy November morning in Minnesota, This Christmas made for a more-than-satisfying companion. I applaud Imani Winds and will definitely check out their other recordings. This is an intensely talented group that will be entertaining my family during the holiday season for many years to come!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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rom the liner notes:

Imani Winds
Valerie Coleman: flute, piccolo
Toyin Spellman-Diaz: oboe, English horn
Mariam Adam: clarinet
Jeff Scott: French horn
Monica Ellis: bassoon

Special Guests:
Jason Moran: piano
James Genus: bass
Nate Smith: drums
Javier Diaz: percussion

Recorded February 2008 at the Performing Arts Center, Theater C, Purchase, New York


From the Website:

Imani Winds has established itself as more than a wind quintet. Since 1997, the Grammy nominated ensemble has taken a unique path, carving out a distinct presence in the classical music world with its dynamic playing, culturally poignant programming, genre-blurring collaborations, and inspirational outreach programs. With two member composers and a deep commitment to commissioning new work, the group is enriching the traditional wind quintet repertoire while meaningfully bridging European, American, African and Latin American traditions.

The group is in the midst of its Legacy Commissioning Project, an ambitious five-year endeavor launching Imani Winds into its second decade of music making. The ensemble is commissioning, premiering and touring ten new works for woodwind quintet written by established and emerging composers of various musical backgrounds. The select composers originate from different points of the globe bringing experience not only in classical music, but jazz, Middle Eastern, Latin, and harder to define sounds. The Legacy Project kicked off in 2008 with world premieres by Alvin Singleton and Roberto Sierra. In 2008-09, Jason Moran's Cane will premiere at the Kimmel Center for the Arts in Philadelphia, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall.

Imani Winds

This Christmas

Artist link

Track List