Jonathan Karrant: A Grown Up Christmas Album

Christmas is a holiday that is oftentimes geared for kids.  Designed to encourage children to create a list of gifts they would like Santa Claus to give them on Christmas day.  It is a special time of the year that inspires hope and good cheer towards one another.  Stoking the belief in the legendary tales of the patron saint of children St. Nicholas and the birth of the baby Jesus Christ.  

American vocalist Jonathan Karrant, however, illustrates Christmas as a time of year for grown ups, choosing songs for his album Christmas Wish that appeal to a sophisticated palate.  Portraying the holiday as a period of maturity that enables adults to look in retrospect at what transpired in the past year, and finding hope in the year to come.  

It is no wonder that David Foster's 1989 tune "Grown Up Christmas List" is the first song Karrant had in mind for the setlist on his Christmas album.  He recalls, "I've wanted to make a holiday album for years. When Diane Schuur and I decided we wanted to record 'Grown-Up Christmas List' together, that put the album in motion."

"Diane and I met 10 years ago," he reveals, "when I was asked to present her with the proclamation of Diane Schuur Day in Palm Springs at the Women's Jazz Festival there. We hit it off and became close friends. 'Grown-Up Christmas List' has a timely message that we both believe in and when we were listening to the song together we decided we'd like to record it as a duet. I want the arrangement to have a 6/8 gospel groove so we could bring a soulful emotion to it."

While artists such as Perry Como, Andy Williams, Gene Autry, and Bing Crosby made Christmas albums that had several tracks meant for kids, Karrant approached his holiday release from the perspective of adults meaning to share the spirit of merriment with fellow adults.

"I picked my favorite holiday songs," he shares, "that are most nostalgic to me but also chose some based on what would balance the album as a whole."

The recording opens with Latin shimmies propelling "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" sprinkling the track with sprightly trimmings, turning nostalgic and ruminating through "Christmas Time Is Here."  Honing a spiritual vibe in "Blue Christmas" and crossing into a ragtime romp through "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me," featuring the rippling toots of Kenny Rampton's trumpet.   

Joe Alterman plays a frolicking vamp along "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and moves into the swinging strut of "Winter Wonderland," cleated by Justin Chesarek's bopping drumbeats and the bouncy arcs of Kevin Smith's bass.  The folkloric silhouettes of "I Wonder As I Wander" project a sombre mood, shifting to a lounging current across "We Three Kings," as Rampton's trumpet pulsates an uplifting voice.   "Last Christmas," a fan favorite written by George Michael of Wham!, is performed with elegant bossa nova swells.

He explains how he chose "Last Christmas" for the setlist, "I wanted a mix of songs from different eras and genres so this one is one of the newer songs. When thinking of how I wanted to arrange it, I automatically heard it as a bossa nova."

Delving deeper into the recording, "Christmas Memories," an adult contemporary tune written by Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Don Costa and formerly performed by Barbara Streisand, is treated with reverence and affection for family gatherings.   Continuing with reverence and affection for the holy family in "Silent Night O Holy Night," Alterman plays a gospel-induced motif on the piano that flatters Karrant's bluesy vocalese.  Following along is the buoyant swagger of "The Christmas Song," and closing the recording with the festive ambience of "All I Want for Christmas," enhanced by Houston Person's flaring saxophone, who also dabs "This Christmas" with glittering twinkles.

Supporting Karrant on the tracks are:  Joe Alterman on piano, Kevin Smith on bass, Justin Chesarek on drums, Peter Sprague on guitar, Carey Frank on organ, James Whiting on vibes, Houston Person on saxophone, and Kenny Rampton on trumpet.  Some of them have recorded with Karrant previously, and some were brought in specifically for this Christmas album.

He recounts when he met Houston Person, "I met Houston in New York and pianist Joe Alterman is close with him. The three of us have performed together and Houston plays on a couple of my albums.  Houston is an absolute joy to work with.  His playing is brilliantly beautiful and he brings a gentle and generous wisdom with him."

Commenting about Kenny Rampton, he provides, "Kenny started an organization called The Jazz Outreach Initiative that I'm a board member of. The organization helps children get interments and music lessons plus real life experiences performing. Kenny is a great talented player and I knew he would sound awesome on the two songs he plays on."

He reflects about his album Christmas Wish, "I really wanted to have a holiday album in my library of work and to express these beloved songs with the style and in the way that reflects my personality and artistry."

Quoting from his bio on his website, Karrant was "Born in the heart of America at the foothills of the Ozarks in the old western town of Fort Smith, Arkansas east of the Arkansas River."  His upbringing fostered his affection for Christmas, having been filled with art, music, and dance, and spending a lot of time at his grandfather Bill and grandmother Goldia’s home. 

"His mother, Nancy," according to his bio, "danced and taught for a local ballet company. She is an artist, writer, teacher, and an avid music lover. As a college student in Memphis, Tennessee, she sang with a girl’s band in the 1960’s. Jonathan’s father, John, is a business man and a broker who has a passion for farming and gardening, and owns a ranch just southwest of Fort Smith. While growing up, Jonathan spent many hours helping on the farm, enjoying the outdoors, the livestock and wildlife. Jonathan’s sister, Indra, studied dance from an early age and later excelled as a dancer/choreographer."

His roots are steep in family life, affecting him deeply and strongly.  He admits, "These songs have been with me since my childhood, so it was very special to arrange them and record them. I hope that this album can bring joy to listeners during the holiday season for years to come and be perhaps a smart part of the soundtrack to their musical memories."

Christmas is a holiday that kids rejoice, but Jonathan Karrant shows that adults too can partake in the festivities and joy, beyond providing gifts for children.   It is a special time of the year that inspires hope and good cheer towards one another, and Karrant strives to contribute to the spirit of the holiday with his offering Christmas Wish.