Album Review: Night Is Alive's First Christmas from Night Is Alive All-Stars

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 Album:  Night  Is Alive's First Christmas
Artist:  Night Is Alive All-Stars
Label:  Night Is Alive
Website:  https://nightisalive.com/albums/first-christmas/

From quick scatting yodels to smooth glissandos, vocalist Christie Dashiell leads the Night Is Alive All-Stars comprised of saxophonist Keith Loftis, pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Willie Jones III on Night Is Alive's First Christmas CD.  The All-Stars are exceptional in their delivery of an assortment of favorite Christmas tunes.   Beautifully tailored to Dashiell's warm register measurements, her instincts to know where to place the lyrics and how to carry the verses give the recording a perennial quality.

Loftis etches sensual curves with his saxophone across "Merry Christmas Baby," as Dashiell's vocals blanket the breadth of  Germanson's bluesy arpeggios on the piano.   Loftis plays the main motif on his sax along "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman," erupting ocassionally into a bout of impromptu frills, which give the track an animated character.  The instrumental "What Child Is This?" showcases Germanson's accoutrements to emote tenderness and human sensitivity through his keys while the subtle knolls of Lonnie Plaxico's bass and Willie Jones III's drumming provide a winsome cushion in the melody.  Dashiell's breathy lilt enveloping "Come Home For Christmas" lingers elegantly across the melodic progressions as Loftis's sleek saxophone toots punctuate her emotive phrasing.

Night Is Alive All-Stars captured these Christmas tunes with a soulful connection to them, stroking and molding them to their likeness.  A part of each of the musicians character is imprinted into the music, making the recording specially tailored for them, giving the CD a perennial vibe.

Musicians:
Christie Dashiell - vocals < http://www.christiedashiell.com/ >
Keith Loftis -  saxophone < https://www.keithloftis.com/ >
Rick Germanson - piano < http://www.rickgermanson.com/ >
Lonnie Plaxico - bass < https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lonnie-plaxico-mn0000827411/biography >
Willie Jones III - drums < https://nightisalive.com/willie-jones-iii-epk/ >

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