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Patrick Lamb is a great discovery. His Web site describes him as "the engaging sound of pop vocals" combined with "the energy of funk," "the unique grooves of R&B with a twist of retro," and "the sweet sound of saxophone with a flavor of Jazz." All of this is true on With a Christmas Heart, particularly the final description.

This album features Lamb's rich & melodic sax on 12 tracks, including seven holiday standards, four brand new Lamb offerings, and one delightfully funky "Christmas Medley" that is packed full of four choice carols. The focus here is on instrumentals, although four cuts contain vocals. The first vocal appears on the original title track, "With a Christmas Heart," which is a well-crafted pop song featuring Debra Crowe's talented alto. My favorite cuts, however, have to be the simplest ones that emphasize just the interaction of Lamb's excellent sax with Dan Balmer's guitar (Lamb's "Object of My Desire," "Oh Christmas Tree," and "Winter Wonderland"). In these austere settings, the sax and guitar have the most intricate and intimate conversations. So sweet!

With a Christmas Heart is a delightful holiday offering that impresses on many levels. It's funky-smooth jazz sax with some vocal condiments and spicy accompaniment tossed in. Delicious!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Tracked, Recorded, Mixed, Produced by Patrick Lamb Mastered by Doug Durbrow

Patrick Lamb: saxophone, drums, vocals
John Fresk: string arrangement and sample, keyboard
Randy Cannon: keyboard
Scott Steed: acoustic bass
Gene Houck: bass
Joey Seifers: bass
Dan Gildea: guitar
Dan Balmer: guitar
Luis Opazo: percussion
John Lamb: drums
Brian Foxworth: drums
Anthony Jones: drums
Debra Crowe: vocals
Angel Ocasio: vocals
Tracy Harris: vocals
Harris family: vocals

From the Web site:

Patrick is one of those extraordinary talents who combines raw talent and energy with a singular ability to captivate an audience with his youthful charm, sincerity and pure magnetism. His focus as a songwriter and performing artist is "Old School" R&B, Soul and Jazz. He combines the influences of Funk, "Old School" R&B and a flavor of Jazz to create the unique sound of Patrick Lamb.

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Patrick was playing roadhouse music as a teenager in rural Mississippi when he heard the evocative sounds of James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Wilton Felder, of the Crusaders. He immersed himself in the music of these great artists and began to discover his own sound that would take him far. In the eighties his father, a high school science teacher, took the family to Portland, Oregon. Once there, Patrick's playing and singing were developing into a formidable one-two punch. He accepted the opportunity to perform and tour with Concord Recording Artist and GRAMMY winner Diane Schuur. He has currently rejoined Diane and her band and has been touring extensively worldwide. For a period of time before rejoining Diane Schuur's tour, he recorded and toured worldwide with the Tom Grant band.

Patrick also demonstrates a deep sense of community awareness and civic responsibility. He has performed for numerous fund-raisers to raise consciousness about the loss of funding for the arts in public schools. In addition, he has been involved with major civic efforts to raise money for the America Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, The Christie School and the Richard Burdell ALS Foundation. One can't help but be moved by the huge heart of this young man as it comes though in his civic awareness and in his exuberant energy to entertain and uplift people.

Patrick Lamb

With a Christmas Heart

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Track List