Our Review
Joy to the World, jazz guitarist Gene Nery's collection of Christmas selections, easily could have been classified with my world beat recordings. Sometimes life is a coin flip, but I found Nery's offering to be more of an integration of a variety of rhythms and instrumental styles with his own acoustic and smooth jazz style of play.
Nery's sentimental style is much warmer and more inviting to my ear than most jazz recordings. It is this accessibility to the general listener, combined with the seamless integration of Latin and African styles, that recommends this work. I like also how the guitar is brought to the fore on this record, unlike many jazz works (even jazz guitar works!) where the guitar is relegated to the "rhythm section". Nery's sound is the pristine, clear and delightful sound of a tropical waterfall on Christmas morning.
A contemporary guitarist (evidently influenced by the likes of peers Ottmar Liebert and Leo Kottke), his arrangement of White Christmas includes a beautiful accordion solo by John Bonica which led me to think of Henry Mancini.
Integrating Africa and the Caribbean with jazz, acoustic and new age arrangements, Gene Nery breathes new life into fourteen traditional Christmas tunes.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2000)
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Gene Nery
Joy to the World
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Label: Pure & Simple
Genre: Jazz
Release: 1998
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Joy to the World |
| What Child is This |
| Winter Wonderland |
| Away in a Manger |
| White Christmas |
| We Three Kings |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem |
| Little Drummer Boy |
| It Came Upon a Midnight Clear |
| Sleigh Ride |
| O Holy Night |
| Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! |
| Silent Night |
| Jingle Bells |