2022 – Tradition, yeah it works.
Tis’ The Season
My love for music is reaffirmed every year when the holidays arrive. Usually about November or December, I grab my collection of Holiday Song Books and sit down at the piano and step back into my holiday ritual. The first couple of days or sessions are promising but usually rough as my muscle memory slowly returns with practice. Then more practice, and finally, there is a hope!
Christmas music is challenging for many reasons. Firstly, they can be fairly complex in the melody and chord movement. On the piano for instance, they often require a walking left hand bass line and quick chord changes in the right. This is a jazzy piano style that took me years to be able to do in time and keep a good structure under the vocals. Then there is trying to turn the pages as you go without dropping a beat! Sooner or later you just resort to memory and then you are up and running!
Singing? Well, everybody knows these tunes and I found it took a while to have my own style or approach, injecting my usual flair for “having fun” and getting people to share a moment, without judgement. Honestly, you just have to let go and not seek perfection, that is a miracle in itself to be able to not self-judge, everything. Just play and sing and enjoy every note and try to get somebody else to join in with you. There is joy in numbers, especially this time of year.
Gather
Christmas Music is about everyone. It’s tradition. Its grounding us to something that we can return to that we all have in common.
We don’t always want to go back to what was, we want something new or we run away from letting go and addressing our feelings. I encourage you to be brave, to give in to an ugly sweater, grab some hot chocolate as you pick out an overpriced Christmas Tree. You can feel warm inside no matter, just call a friend, hang out, laugh and sing some dam Christmas songs together.
“Christmas Is Real”
“Christmas Is Real” is collection of my favorite holiday songs. The lead track, “Christmas Is Real” is my 1st of two original songs on the record. Check these lyrics and see if you can figure out my message!
Christmas is real
Not just for Santa
And his tiny reindeer
Christmas is real
Means so much more
Than our toys galore
There is hope
There is love
There are angels and shephards sent from above
Yeah Christmas is real
With our sweaters so ugly
We circle the tree
Its glowing like heaven
Such a sight to see
We spend time with our friends
And our family
Yeah Christmas is real
Christmas is real
Not just for Santa
And his tiny reindeer
Christmas is real
Means so much more
Than our toys galore
There is hope
There is love
There are angels and shephards sent from above
Yeah Christmas is real
The desperate still need us
To warm their hearts
Somebody is hiding their pain
And it takes, only, one, of us, to, know
The difference we make with the words that, we, sow
Let us make somebody’s
Christmas real
CHORUS
It starts in a manager, no crib for his bed
Mother Mary knows,
The sheep and their kings, they gave up their things
To follow a star
Christmas is real
Not just for Santa
And his tiny reindeer
Christmas is real
Means so much more
Than our toys galore
There is hope
There is love
There are angels and shephards sent from above
There is hope
There is love
There are angels and shephards sent from above
Yeah Christmas is real
Track List
- Christmas Is Real – (Original)
- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
- Holly Jolly Christmas
- Christmas Time Of Year – (Original)
- My Favorite Things
- Winter Wonderland
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Silver Bells
- The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- Oh Holy Night
- Up On The Housetop
https://tidal.com/browse/album/258467699
RED RIDGE ENTERTAINMENT
Many of you know the value of relationships in the music business. My buddy, Gary Sadker, who is the owner at Red Ridge Entertainment, took this project on with his usual style and passion for helping artists get the productions they want and need. Pay attention to amazing acoustic piano on these tracks, that’s Gary adding his award wining sound to the record.
FOUNDER GARY SADKER WINS INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Gary Sadker, Founder of Red Ridge Entertainment recently won the “Instrumentalist of the Year” award at the MPS music awards.
The musicians on this album are incredible and all tracks were recorded in Franklin Tennessee, at the Sound Kitchen. Kyle Hershman, is an up and coming engineer, producer who is a joy to work with as well.
Finally, the record was mixed by Mike Purcell at County Q recording in Nashville. County Q
INSPIRATION
Every note, every moment of joy that comes to my hand or voice was learned or taught by those that came before and shared their sound with the world. I am grateful for music, for all music, as it is the only true language we share no matter our skin or geography. Christmas to me is very real, its what I choose to believe in. I always say “you do you”. This is me!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
So from me to you, wherever you are around the world, I truly hope you feel my message in this post and in these songs. We are blessed to be alive and its ok to take a day, a week or month just enjoying what we do have, what we can give, just love somebody and sing some dam Christmas songs.
GIVE IT – SHARE IT?
Want to cheer somebody up? Send them the playlist and see how they like it? This gives them something new to try and the both of you a Christmas Songlist to sing along to.