Review and More

Our Review

Holiday Time bursts with dark, soulful exuberance. Professor Louie and The Crowmatix have concocted a bluesy brew that rocks big-time. So put your hands together, throw your head back, put your toes to tappin', and let loose for the good Professor. Outrageous!

The high-spirited and spunky Holiday Time is about family, too. The album opens with the original title track and the sounds of children's laughter, sleigh bells, and the accordion (I think!). When the Professor says Holiday Time Is Here, he means all of the end-of-the-year holidays, and the message is that this is the "time for everyone to share some love." Who can argue with that?

The dozen tracks provide a super-cool blend of the traditional and the rocket-charged brand new. Two numbers are instrumentals, and the rest are vocal romps. The Professor's gutsy, gritty voice reminds me of a blues-imbued Charlie Daniels--excellent! The lovely Miss Marie has nice pipes, too, and puts them to good use on the beautiful ballad Melody of Peace. My two favorite numbers, however, are Santa Loves to Boogie, a honky-tonkin' hoot about Santa's nocturnal dance habits, and Nicks Takin' the Reindeer Home, a sweet samba-beatin' hommage to Santa's reindeer, who are "worked to the bone." Both pieces are Crowmatix originals (K. Doherty on the first; A. Hurwitz & M. Spinosa on the second). This is great songwriting, the sort of music that bounces you from your chair onto the floor.

Stand and applaud for Professor Louie & The Crowmatix. Holiday Time is a joyous time for all!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

The Crowmatix:
Prof. "Louie"--vocals, bkg. vocals, piano, Hammond organ, accordion, synths
Miss Marie--vocals, bkg. vocals, percussion, piano, whistling, synths
Gary Burke--drums
Frank Campbell--bass, bkg. vocals
Josh Colow--electric & acoustic guitar

Additional Musicians:

The Chamber School Ensemble with Choral Dir. Mona J. Stovall--Vocals, Song 1
Bobbie Van Detta--electric guitar, songs 1 & 5
Tony Medeiros--acoustic & electric guitar, songs 3,6,7,8
Danny Sheehan--acoustic guitar, song 5
Mike DeMicco--electric guitar, song 9
Mike Dunn--bass, song 9

Produced by: Aaron L. Hurwitz & The Crowmatix
Recorded at: LRS Recording Studios, Hurley, NY
Recording Engineers & Mixing: Aaron L. Hurwitz, Dave Cook, Marie Spinosa, Frank Campbell, Bob Karcy

For the past few holiday seasons, Prof. "Louie" & The Crowmatix recorded a holiday song and sent it as a musical CD to close fans and friends. The response inspired us to write new songs and record some of our havorite standards and spirituals... add these songs together and here is the full CD Holiday Time.

In affiliation with CBS 6 Melodies of Christmas television show a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will go to the Albany Medical Center's Child Cancer Program.

Professor Louie & the Crowmatix

Holiday Time

Artist link

Track List