Album Review: All Is Merry And Bright from Donald Vega

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Album:  All Is Merry And Bright
Artist:  Donald Vega
Label:  Imagery Records
Website:  www.donaldvega.com

Pianist and composer Donald Vega applies his distinctive artistic brush strokes to classic Yuletide tunes on his 2024 release All Is Merry and Bright from Imagery Records.  Produced by multi Grammy winner engineer and producer Jim Anderson, Vega is joined by Pete Van Nostrand on drums and Clovis Nicolas on bass.  The trio coalesce classic motifs with a flare for magnetic and innovative phrasing.

Vega's poignant keyboard punctuations are scattered across tracks like "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel," sprinkling the tunes with sparks of buoyancy and impromptu impressions.  The bubbly facets enhance the Yuletide experience.

The solace emanating from Vega's keys along "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is inviting with warm aesthetics that are universally pleasing.  His rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" exudes an intensity that galvanizes the audience to every moment of the score.

Vega soaks "Greensleeves" in a basting of Latin swing moistening the rhythmic beats, then embroiders a sheath of Latin shimmers across the bopping and playful groove of "Deck the Halls."  Closing the recording with succor-infused swells of "Silent Night," the trio swathe the listener in blissful tidings.

Vega demonstrates an intuitive leaning when determining and measuring buoyancy, playfulness, intensity, and serenity in the arrangements.  He balances traditional motifs with improvised excursions with the dexterity and acuity of a jazz savant.  His Yuletide offering has the makings of a timeless treasure.

Musicians:
Donald Vega - piano and composer
Pete Van Nostrand - drums
Clovis Nicolas - bass

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