Various Artists | In The Christmas Groove

Album Review: Various Artists | In The Christmas Groove
By Brent Faulkner


Most people, regardless if they are professional musicians, amateurs or
merely music lovers, LIVE for the holiday season because they get to
‘break out’ their Christmas (holiday) albums. Regardless of religious
preference or the vast array of ways the holidays can be celebrated
(whether it be Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or otherwise), music is a
unique and unifying part of the tradition. There is nothing better than a
great Christmas compilation albums to hype up the holiday season even
more. In The Christmas Groove is just that; it’s a compilation album
that collects classic soul, funk, and blues holiday tracks from the
past. The album is a captivating idea and an even more captivating
listen as it is composed of originals and gems, many unheard before.
Sure, thirteen tracks of similar styles has it sagging moments given the
‘sameness,’ but for the most part, In The Christmas Groove is the
epitomization of great music from the past.

Jimmy Reed starts things off right with “Christmas Present Blues,” whose
high-watermark might be the sizzling harmonica solo. Brief it may be,
the groove is characteristically funky, taking the listeners ‘way back
in the day’ to the golden days of the blues. Electric Jungle follows up
Reed’s ‘tour de force’ with their own “Funky, Funky Christmas,” which
lifts off a number of Christmas carols (“Little Drummer Boy” being one).
As its title states, it exemplifies the funk style, particularly the
soulful saxophone solo. “Soul Santa,” performed by Funk Machine, does
not disappoint either. Lifting off of “Jingle Bells,” the track erupts
into a massive funk arrangement, intact with soulful guitar, horns, and
big funky bass line. As for the vocals? They are enjoyable, not to
mention the background vocals which make the palette all the more
complete.

“Getting Down for Christmas,” performed by Milly & Silly (what a
great name!), is a fine instrumental cut; I love the way this track
evolves naturally, building up to fruition. “Black Christmas,”
performed by the Harlem’s Children’s Chorus, is another solid cut, with a
mature sounding soloist who possesses a fine timbre about his youthful
voice. Soulful and brief, the cuts pack enough punch and history that
they are enjoyable, ‘retro-fantastic’ listens.

“Angel’s Christmas,” contributed by Wild Honey continues the upward
swing. The strings are lovely here, not to mention the driving, funky
groove. “Angel’s Christmas” is also worth mentioning as the vocal
performance sounds more nuanced than others that are more fixated on the
groove. “Home On Christmas Day,” performed by Captain Elmo McKenzie
& The Roosters is solid, while “Santa’s Got a Bag of Soul” (Soul
Saints Orchestra) is valedictory, excelling in every regard. The male
lead rivals the late great James Brown, delivering a vocal performance
filled with gusto and undeniable, unquestionable swagger. “Santa”
proves to be the very epitomization of the ‘funk/soul’ idiom.

“Boogaloo Santa Claus,” performed by J.D. McDonald is fun and addictive,
though it overstays its welcome, particularly given its placement
closer to the end of the album. “Christmas Morning,” performed by Zebra
is also enjoyable and unique, but drags on too long clocking in closer
to the five-minute mark. Admirable about “Christmas Morning” is its
change of styles near the two-minute mark, which differentiates it from
all the other cuts.

The final three tracks are among the best of the consistent effort.
“Let’s Get It Together This Christmas” (Harvey Averne Band) is brief,
but packs quite the punch with its incorporation of horns, guitar,
organ, etc. The chorus is well penned and simple, which is something
that made music ‘back when’ timeless. “The New Year,” contributed by a
soulful Jimmy Jules, is perfect by all means. The female backing vocals
help to strengthen Jules’s commanding lead vocals, and the instrumental
arrangement is spot-on. Closer, “Auld Lang Syne” (The Black On White
Affair), is more than a traditional setting of ‘The New Years’s Song’
and proves to be appropriately placed at the end of this effort. The
recording quality is questionable (keeping in mind this is an extremely
old recording), but the effect that the listener gets is NOT compromised
whatsoever.

Essentially, In The Christmas Groove is quite the ‘Christmas gem’ for
your Holiday music collection. Filled with rarities one would be
hard-pressed to find anywhere else, there is enough solid material on
this effort to allure more than just the avid blues, soul, or funk fans.
Where some compilations feel incredibly stale and ill conceived, this
one has enough ‘bright spots’ to be considered satisfactory.

Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene