Music review: Leslie Odom Jr. 鈥� 鈥楽imply Christmas鈥�
With another Thanksgiving Day celebrated and blessings counted, it鈥檚 now time to absorb the magic of Christmas. The first place I start to help me get in the true spirit of the season is with some new holiday music to set the proper tone for those marathon decorating, shopping, baking and visiting sessions that fill this joyous time of the year.聽
Those close to me know that I am a Christmas music junkie with well over 200 Christmas albums accumulated over the last 25 years. The first weekend after Thanksgiving the Christmas decorations go up and the festive music marathon begins and doesn鈥檛 come to a close until the arrival of New Year鈥檚 Day. Despite my extensive musical collection, I still get excited when the new holiday releases come out each year.
This year鈥檚 new Christmas album that has me feeling warm and reflective is 鈥淪imply Christmas鈥� from Leslie Odom Jr.
The Tony winner follows up his self-titled debut from 2014 with a new record of reinterpreted holiday standards featuring soulful jazz versions of favorites like 鈥淗ave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檒l Be Home for Christmas,鈥� 鈥淭he Christmas Song鈥� and 鈥淭he First Noel.鈥�
Perhaps best known for his role as Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel Miranda鈥檚 smash hit 鈥淗amilton,鈥� the actor and musician delivers a pristine performance with a voice that is silky smooth and comforting. A calming sophistication embraces the 35-year-old鈥檚 cover of 鈥淢y Favorite Things,鈥� while he turns the Carpenters鈥� 鈥淢erry Christmas Darling鈥� into a tender and dreamy Christmas wish.
鈥淎ve Maria鈥� elegantly closes the set in a surreal manner with soothing piano and Odom鈥檚 engaging voice seamlessly blending to relay the beautiful prayer set to music and remind us all the true reason for the season.
If you are struggling to find the spirit of Christmas this year, pick up a copy of 鈥淪imply Christmas鈥� and let it brighten your mood and warm the heart. It is charming. It is nostalgic. It is simply wonderful.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.