Renowned banjo master Béla Fleck has recorded a Christmas project in collaboration with his touring band, The Flecktones. Jingle All The Way contains their arrangements of familiar Christmas and holiday music, and is expected for release on Rounder Records September 30.
The selections pay homage to all-time Christmas favorites (Jingle Bells, O Come All Ye Faithful), classical pieces (Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Danse of the Sugar Plum Fairies), and a number of modern songs more recently associated with the Christmas season (Mel Torme’s The Christmas Song, Vince Guaraldi’s Linus and Lucy [from A Charlie Brown Christmas], Joni Mitchell’s River).
In addition to The Flecktones (Victor Wooten on electric bass, Jeff Coffin on sax and flute, and Future Man on percussion) performers include Edgar Meyer, Andy Statman & Tuvan throat singers The Alash Ensemble.
The full track listing follows:
- Jingle Bells
- Silent Night
- Sleigh Ride
- The Christmas Song
- Twelve Days of Christmas
- J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio – BVW 248 # 41
- Christmas Time Is Here
- Linus and Lucy
- Jingle Bells (reprise)
- The Hanukkah Waltz
- Danse of the Sugar Plum Fairies
- What Child Is This/Dyngyldai
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Medley
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- River
Audio samples for two tracks are available online.
