Ellis Marsalis
A New Orleans Christmas Carol
ELM Records
www.ellismarsalis.com
By George W. Harris

Leave it to the elder Marsalis to put out a Christmas disc that mixes
the best of the Reason for the Season with Holiday Cheer. He leads a
team of Bill Huntington-Peter Harris/b, Jason Marsalis/dr-vibe, Roman
Skakun/vibe and vocalists Cynthia Liggins Thomas & Johnaye Kendrick for
some mixing and matching of secular and religious material.

The piano trio glistens like a tree ornament on “Little Drummer Boy”
and “We Three Kings” while the added vibes on “O Holy Night” is as
reverent as a midnight mass. Thomas’ reading of “A Child Is Born” is
poignant, while Kendrick is as buoyant as the Ghost of Christmas
Present on Marsalis’ “Christmas Joy.” A definite stocking stuffer of
Nativity celebration.