Sloan Wainwright & Friends On a Night Before Christmas - Live

One of the most interesting things concerning Christmas music is that it is expressed through so many different genres and styles that it is impossible to NOT find something that will please. Most people can listen to the traditional style of any given tune, while a lot can sweep through other styles as well. Regardless, every new holiday season brings with it a batch more of Christmas songs in a variety of styles.

Sloan Wainwright, a sister of Loudon Wainwright III – father of Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright – is part of a pedigree of singers that are distinctive and thoughtful in their music. Sloan possesses a deep, contralto voice that is, at once, soulful and beautiful, expressive in every note in her wide range.

Sloan Wainwright joins with friends to create a Christmas album of interesting selections that include “2000 Miles,” by Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders), the excellent Joni Mitchell tune, “River,” as well as an original Queen tune, “Thank God It’s Christmas,” a Billy Squier (Piper, solo) original, “Christmas Is The Time to Say I Love You,” and a Paul Stookey song, “A Soalin’.” They all fit together to form a country town-like atmosphere, one that believes in the goodwill of Christmas and it shows in their songs. This type of songs, I find to be the warmest of them all. It’s quite one thing to sing “Silver Bells,” it’s another to actually mean what you sing.

This album was recorded live and contains a grouping of songs that not only utilize the talented voice of Sloan Wainwright but also the musical talents of many friends. Recorded at the Northern Westchester Center for the Arts in Mt Kisco, NY on December 18th, 2004, this album of 13 tracks is a perfect selection for those cold nights with friends. It not only has the essence of Christmas spirit throughout, it is also one of those rare moments where you feel an artist’s love for music and the gathering of like souls.

This is one of those special albums that may not contain all of the classics that you know well but will leave you exhilarated for the reasons that I named earlier.