Wind quintet
Imani Winds is joined by a small jazz combo for this fun collection of arrangements of Christmas classics. These versions are written mostly by the group members, hornist Jeff Scott and flutist Valerie Coleman, and are far from being conventional arrangements. Most are more like extravagant jazz riffs on the original tunes; sometimes the original doesn't appear in a recognizable form until the very end of a piece. The arrangers take every possible opportunity to avoid obvious choices, but even the most eccentric's take on the original sound is entirely apt. The wit and inventiveness of these versions would be reason enough to recommend this album, but the ensemble plays with extraordinary virtuosity, and the listener is as often astounded by the remarkable performances as by the wonderfully wacky arrangements themselves. The sound is clean and present. This isn't necessarily an album you'd choose for background music, but for the adventurous listener looking for a highly sophisticated, jazzy take on traditional holiday music, This Christmas with
Imani Winds could be just the thing.