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Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O celebrates 15 years with New Album & Tour The year 2024 marks the 60th birthday of the beloved drummer, composer, and bandleader Matt Wilson. It also celebrates the 15th anniversary of one of Matt’s acclaimed ensembles, the Christmas Tree-O, featuring multi-reed legend Jeff Lederer and revered bassist Paul Sikivie. The band performed their first concert on December 9, 2009, in Brooklyn, NY. They then recorded their seminal album, Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O, at Maggie’s Farm studio on a snowy May day in 2010. The album was released in the fall of 2010 by Palmetto Records. Since then, the band has performed extensively across the United States and Canada. Their annual sold-out engagements at the Jazz Standard (now held at Dizzy’s) have become a New York City holiday tradition. The band has featured a range of music legends as guests, including Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Aaron Diehl, Christian McBride, Esperanza Spaulding, Nels Cline, Camilla Meza, and Cecile McLorin Salvant. In June 2024, the trio traveled through icy highways to Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to record their second album, Tree Jazz: The Shape of Christmas to Come. A week later, after the thaw, they welcomed the Treedom Singers—Mary LaRose, Audrey Wilson and Gregory Rodriguez—to add their vocal magic to the recording. Dawn Clement plays piano on “Shine Your Light.” The Selections: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day–This is a Christmas classic inspired by the US Civil War era poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Our arrangement features our fine bassist, Paul Sikivie. Do You Hear What I Hear? / Under Pressure– Many folks get stressed out during the holiday season, so I decided to combine a Christmas classic with a classic by Queen and David Bowie. Mariah Parusha–Another sonic concoction honoring pop diva Mariah Carey and the avant-garde saxophone legend, Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre. Good King Wenceslas–I would like to dedicate my arrangement of this song to my dear friend, mentor and master drummer, Jeff Hamilton. Jeff is one of greatest wire brush players in jazz history. Up on the Rooftop–What can we say? WE LOVE ORNETTE COLEMAN! Si Me Dan Pasteles–This is a Puerto Rican Christmas song brought to us by our virtuosic reed player, Jeff Lederer. Pasteles are pastries shared by friends during the Christmas season. Rocker– A contra-fact by Gerry Mulligan on the Leroy Anderson classic, “Sleigh Ride.” I supply the horse whinnies. Little Candles–Is a Ladino Hanukkah song traditionally associated with the Sephardic Jewish community. Shine Your Light–A new Christmas song by Jeff Lederer. It was inspired by a poem by Yoko Ono, Light Piece. Our hope is that it becomes a holiday anthem that inspires folks to offer kindness to our world. https://www.mattwilsonjazz.com |
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