El 25 de Desembre Swing, Swing, Swing

Tracklisting:

01. Les dotze van tocant (Traditional) 2:50
02. Benvinguda (Kirby Shaw) 1:38
03. El desembre congelat (Traditional) 2:40
04. Làngel i els pastors (Traditional) 3:46
05. El cant dels ocells (Traditional) 3:57
06. El rabadà (Trad. Arr. Ignasi Terraza) 4:05
07. El dimoni escuat (Traditional) 5:33
08. El noi de la mare (Traditional) 3:23
09. Sant Josep i la Mare de Déu (Traditional) 3:17
10. Fum, fum, fum (Traditional) 4:26
11. Epíleg nadalenc (Ignasi Terraza) 1:47

All arrangements comissioned by Cor Vivaldi to Dr. Kirby Shaw, except 'El rabadà' and 'Epíleg nadalenc,' by Ignasi Terraza


Personnel:

Cor Vivaldi-Petits Cantors de Catalunya, conduced by Oscar Boada

Ignasi Terraza (piano), Dimitri Skidanov (bass), Artur Regada (bass only on #7), and Esteve Pi (drums).

Special guests:

Marta Jobani: Vocal soloist (on #2)
Susana Sheiman: Vocal soloist (on #3,9 & 10)
Andrea Motis: Vocal soloist & trumpet (on #4 & 7)
Joan Chamorro: Tenor sax (on #4 & 7)
Joaquín Gómez el Duende: vocal soloist (on #5)
Isaac Figueres: Cajón (on #5)
Randy Greer: Vocal soloist (on #8 & 10)


Recorded at Estudi Oido, Auditori ONCE, Estudi Rosa Azul and Estudi Temps Record, Barcelona 2012

Sound Engineer: David Casamitjana


Produced by Ignasi Terraza
Executive Producer: Miriam Guardiola
Executive Producer: Margarita Cabero
Art & Graphic Design: Estudi Natàlia Cuadrado
Text Edition: Imma Espunyes


-----------------------------------------------

"Christmas is a dangerous time. Especially if youre an adult, you dont feel the need to get together with family members with whom you hardly speak to during the rest of the year, who are in a critical stage of their umpteenth diet, and from badulaque to the majestic retail centres, the gynaecologists waiting room or the tax-office lift, a conspiracy of shepherds, virgins, Jesus boys and mother of Mary kids twitter in unison in the same old persistent song. These are the dreadful carols, a genre within themselves licensed with rampant persecution and endless repetition which shows no mercy. Torture or perversion, you can choose. Faced with this unstoppable and ancient tradition you dont stand a chance. Maybe thats why a musician as intelligent and cunning as Ignasi Terraza decided a few years ago to put into practise the best of the English proverb: If you cant beat them, join them. And since then, as soon as the winter solstice approaches, weve become accustomed to hearing the (Barcelona) pianists particular, swinging vision of the Christmas classics. Being reckless runs the risk of digging deep into the annoyance, but still allows the possibility of breathing new life into those songs that will finally sound fresh again, as they should do according to folk heritage.

And this is what, Bell over bell, this musician has achieved, in his fearless attempt, a mission that appears to be impossible. To achieve it, he has the complicity of the white voices of the Vivaldi Choir who, with their innocence and simplicity, radiate authentic light.

The hard work of the North American composer Kirby Shaw, a specialist in the harmonisation of collective voices, contributes in good measure to the virtues of the choir. On choosing the lead vocals, the combination of Marta Jobanis lyrical singing, the familiarity of Randy Greer Catalonias own Nat King Cole-, the premiering of Andrea Motis singing in Catalan, Susana Sheimans tremendous contribution and El Duendes flamenco participation, lends a range of aesthetics that enriches each of the pieces and makes up the whole. The rest, by no means least, is made up of first class musicians such as Esteve Pi on the drums, Dimitri Skidanov and Artur Regada on double bass, Joan Chamorro on tenor sax, Isaac Figueres on the cajón and Motis herself on trumpet. All of them, under certain swing coordinates that show the way, head towards soul El desembre congelat -, inviting in Allegro Les dotze van tocant -, swaying in lead Benvinguda remembering the velvet naughty wind of Ben Webster El dimoni escuat-, the silk hands of Hank Jones El rabadà and even the Spanish Touch in a Latin key Fum, fum, fum-. All put together to wish us a Merry Swing and a Happy Jazzy Year! Lets toast with cava, lets rejoice, a Christmas with jazz and choir is well worth it."

Pere Pons, journalist