MP3 Becky Archibald - The Christmas One

Delightful, surprising, inspiring (and don't forget about fun) Christmas arrangements by award-winning composer/pianist Becky Archibald that range from jazzy to bluesy to hypnotic to passionate.

13 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Contemporary, JAZZ: Free Jazz



Details:
The Christmas One receives Recording of Exceptional Merit Award, WRST-FM, Wisconsin Public Radio!

"Without question Becky Archibaldâs âThe Christmas Oneâ tops this tree. Unlike most piano CDs I receive, hers wonât work as background music at all. Your attention will keep returning to the music as she takes one delightful new turn after another with familiar carols." Gerry Gryzb, (Dr. Christmas) host of WRST-FM.

Nominated, Best Traditional Holiday Song (Happy Holiday Rag) in the Just Plain Folks 2006 Album Awards

"Is it still possible to do a solo piano Christmas album that is truly different without being too "out there"? In Becky Archibaldâs hands, the answer is a resounding "Yes!" . . . My favorite is "Happy Holiday Rag," which is a medley of "Happy Holiday," "Up On the Housetop," and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." This joyous little piece all but dances out of the CD player, closing the CD with a great big grin and a hearty "ho ho ho. Kathy Parsons, Solo Piano Publications.

"VERY FINE!! The recording quality, too, is the best. This is certainly one of the most fresh and unique Christmas CD's I have heard in a long time. I love your style ... it is so uniquely YOU!" Tom Knox, WPLN-Nashville

"A lyrical and melodic player, Ms. Archibald begins and closes with swinging renditions of "Jingle Bells" and "Happy Holiday Rag" and otherwise mostly performs more introspective but still quietly joyful selections. Among the songs that she gives beauty to are "O Little Town Of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," "Deck The Halls" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." The music is delightful and heartfelt, a perfect addition to anyone's Xmas Jazz collection." Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene

"Becky Archibaldâs Yule offering adds some sparkling tinsel to this holiday season." Chuck Workman, NUVO Newsweekly, Indianapolis.

""The Christmas Song" is a gigantic gift untying itself to reveal the meanings you desire. And as in vaudeville, âAlways leave âem laughing when you say good-bye.â Thatâs the joy in âHappy Holiday Rag.â" Rita Kohn, NUVO.

About The Christmas One

âThe Christmas Oneâ took a few years to put together. In December of 1999, I wrote my first Christmas arrangementâa lively one-minute version of Jingle Bells. Each December after that I would write 2 or 3 more. Itâs easier in Decemberâthe Christmas tree is up, itâs cold and (sometimes) snowy, and thatâs when those beautiful old tunes are running through my head. Each time I laid my hands on the piano keys and meditated on the words of a song, I hoped that whatever came out of me would be true to the traditional text, but true to me too. I Wander As I Wander took on the exotic flavor of Bartokâs Pe Loc, with a variation of the theme that sounded much more âwandery.â Deck the Halls flits back and forth between stride piano, Vince Guaraldi, and something both lush and quiet. O Come, O Come Emmanuel has a blues flavor. The liner notes tell the story of how each of the 13 unique tracks were born.

The cover is a story in and of itself. I gave the photographer, Scott Schrecker, complete freedom for a concept. He said he had a vision of me in my pajamas inside a filthy old fireplace. This is my 4th CD, and Iâve worked with him on all of them, so I knew that his strange request could wind up being something worthwhile. He lives in Nashville, so I spent a whole day there, running from one beat up old house to another, looking for the right shot. Nothing was quite right (plus it was a very, very hot day in July) so he offered to come up to Indy if I could find something here. I looked for houses that were being renovated and came up with nothing, so I called my friend Molly who at least has a large fireplace, and took pictures of it. For more options, she took me to her neighborâs house who had built an outdoor fireplace on his deck. It was very odd looking. Big, stony, full of sticks and soot. When I sent a picture of it to Scott, he said yes, thatâs the one, thatâs exactly what Iâm looking for. I didnât see the artistry or beauty in it, but he did.

The funny thing is, I still donât know why. I donât know what the cover means. My mom says it looks like Iâm waiting for Santa. If you want to know why Scott asked me to climb inside a big dirty fireplace in my jammies, talk to him. And let me know what he says. (You can find him at www.scottschrecker.com )

--Becky Archibald
www.beckyarchibald.com