Our Review
Hailing from the gorgeous Finger Lakes region of New York State, Scott B. Adams is a prolific musician/songwriter who knows his way around a mandolin. On Noel Nouveau, available in CD-R format, Adams uses his mandolin "brush" to paint lovely musical landscapes of the holiday variety. Nouveau indeed!
The 13 instrumentals emphasize familiar ancient carols, creating ambient music that is lush and relaxing. The mandolin's voice sings slightly more brightly than that of a guitar; here, its intonations rest upon a worthy foundation of acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and percussion (Ray Zajac, Jr.). The style is easy-listening jazz with a light Latin bent, and the overall package is sprightly, clean, and uplifting. Noel Nouveau would easily provide a tasteful backdrop to holiday events; the acoustic music is warmly satisfying, and the innovative arrangements do not scream "Christmas!"
The release navigates a comfortable line between folksiness and formality; pieces such as Crown Him with Many Crowns and Pachelbel's Canon in D convey a majesty that feels homespun, and the more humble traditional carols such as Rondeau assume a stately air. I especially liked the exotic and upbeat Riu, Riu, Chiu and the syncopated Ding Dong Merrily on High; both had me swinging in my seat as I composed this review.
Scott Adams' Noel Nouveau is a sweet instrumental find for the holidays, making the old seem new again. Nice!
--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)
More
From the liner notes:
Produced by Scott B. Adams
Arrangements by Scott B. Adams
Scott B. Adams: Mandolin, Guitars, Keyboards, Bass
Ray Zajac, Jr.: Latin Percussion, Hand Percussion
From the Website:
Allow the beautifully bright and rich sounds of the mandolin to carry you away to your favorite Christmas oasis with this collection of well known carols. Acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and hand percussion create a warm rhythm bed for these melodies honed from the European tradition. Gently upbeat, yet relaxing, and rounded with a twist of Latin jazz and classical styling, this cd is custom made for your holiday enjoyment.
Scott B. Adams has forged a career out of capturing landscapes and snippets of history from the Adirondacks, The Finger Lakes & New York state, and turning them into lush, acoustic instrumental music compositions.
Scott B. Adams
Noel Nouveau
Order from CD Baby
Artist site
Label: Orchard Beat Records
Length: 47 minutes
Genre: Acoustic
Release: 2007
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Angels, We Have Heard on High |
| It Came Upon a Midnight Clear |
| Ding Dong Merrily on High |
| Crown Him with Many Crowns |
| Stille Nacht |
| Canon in D |
| Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella |
| O Tannenbaum |
| Good King Wenceslas |
| Adeste Fideles |
| Rondeau |
| Riu, Riu, Chiu |
| Away in a Manger |