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Our Review

So solid, so sweet! The Jazz Spirit of Christmas is classic jazz, through and through! This generous album (well over an hour of music!) will satisfy your every jazz need this holiday season.

The dynamic Les DeMerle (drums, vocals) is the moving force behind this project; his wife Bonnie Eisele (vocals, percussion) has been his sizzlin' musical partner for 17 years. The other three ensemble members are Ken Poplowski (tenor sax & clarinet), Thomas Snow (piano), and Bill McCrossen (bass). Snow is an old friend, musically speaking; his lovely holiday album is also reviewed on this site (see our review).

The Jazz Spirit of Christmas absolutely cooks on so many levels! First, every aspect of this CD exudes professionalism. The vocals (by lovin' spouses Eisele and DeMerle) are technically crisp, yet warmly heartfelt. The instrumentation is also top notch. Second, the song selection is broad and gratifying--jazzy gem favorites abound. Third, there is an excellent range of jazzy stylings encompassed here, everything from the sassily sexy ("Santa Baby" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside") to the gently elegant ("Christmas Song" and "Snowfall") to up-tempo, high-flyin', downright smokin' instrumentals ("Sleigh Ride" and "Little Bebop Drummer Boy"). There's even some brilliant Brazilian samba going on ("White Christmas" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas," the latter sung partly in Portuguese!). Even the liner notes are comprehensive!

Those who are jazz-inclined will love this CD. The best moments here include the very special "The Christmas Song"; Tom Snow's arrangement provides a poetic intro, and Eisele's vocals are especially fine. DeMerle does a very impressive Louis Armstrong-type turn with his singing in the Bourbon Street offerings of "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "Santa Claus Is Near." "Sleigh Ride" is a jazzy instrumental explosion with great clarinet riffs and a fun clarinet/drums duet. Honestly, every cut is a diamond--no lumps of coal in this stocking!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band:

Les DeMerle: drums, vocals
Bonnie Eisele: vocals, percussion
Ken Peplowski: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Thomas Snow: piano
Bill McCrossen: bass

Tracks 3,5,7,10,12,13,16 arranged by Thomas Snow
Tracks 2,9,11,14,15 arranged by Les DeMerle
Tracks 1,4,6,8 arranged by les DeMerle & Thomas Snow

Produced by LES DeMERLE and BONNIE EISELE
Co-produced by THOMAS SNOW
Recorded and mixed by STEVE DROWN at The Studio, Portland, ME
Mastered by TOBY MOUNTAIN at Northeastern Digital, Southboro, MA

"The holidays are always a special time for families and friends to get together and celebrate. So to create this CD, I contacted three of my favorite people who just happen to be world-class musicians, dear friends and some of the finest human beings on earth! I think you will feel the joy we had recording and hanging out as you listen to the music that we made with this winning combination of characters!

"This CD project has been a dream come true for my beautiful wife, Bonnie Eisele, and me. We are thrilled to share with you these exciting, fresh concepts in creative arrangements of holiday classics by Thomas Snow and myself with the incredible playing and spirit that the band as a whole achieved on this disc. You will hear the The Jazz Spirit Of Christmas features a broad palette of colors and styles including the hard groovin' bebop of Sleigh Ride and Little Bebop Drummer Boy, the lush, sensuous Brazilian feels of I'll Be Home For Christmas and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, the magical ballad moods of Snowfall and The Christmas Song, the down home blues of Merry Christmas, Baby, the hot, New Orleans second-line grooves of Santa Is Near, a sexy duet on Baby, It's Cold Outside, and the touching, emotional performance of What Are You Doing New Year's Eve with Auld Lang Syne.

"We wish each of you the best holiday ever and we hope that The Jazz Spirit of Christmas will find its place in your heart and the hearts of the ones you love during this meaningful season."

From the Website:

The Les DeMerle Orchestras are based on Amelia Island, Florida at the elegant, award-winning Ritz-Carlton Hotel, appearing in the Lobby Lounge and entertaining there and at many other venues for hotel functions, private parties and corporate events. In addition, the band has received rave reviews for outstanding engagements including the extraordinary casino, Caesars in Atlantic City, the five-star Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, the international jazz club, Somerset's Bar, at the Westin Stamford, the Westin Plaza Hotel in Singapore and the historic Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Dynamic Les DeMerle Band

The Jazz Spirit of Christmas

Artist link

Track List