For almost twenty years, fans of acclaimed jazz vocalist Annie Sellick have been asking her, “When are you going to make a Christmas album?" Their long wait will be over when Sellick releases Let's Make a Christmas Memory on November 28. A special CD release concert with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra is set for December 5.
Annie Sellick has garnered rave reviews and loyal fans around the world for her captivating renditions—sometimes playful, always sincere—from the jazz and standards repertoire. With Let's Make a Christmas Memory, her sixth release on the Chalice Music label, Sellick has compiled a celebratory album bringing in influences from beyond the jazz realm so there is something for everyone—a timeless, classic collection, that will be played Christmas after Christmas for years to come.
This is Sellick's most personal project to date, wrapped up in the meaningful and memory-laden season of Christmas. In these thirteen songs, she collaborates with nearly 100 Nashville music pros, including friends and family. She shares internal reflections, holiday images—all creating a medley of, in Annie's words, “how-I-see-the-world-each-December" songs.
While Annie calls jazz her “passion genre," she soaked up music of all kinds growing up in Music City USA, and she has drawn on those influences throughout her career, especially now in Let's Make a Christmas Memory. From jazz adaptations of holiday classics to a symphonic arrangement of a 16th-century French carol to a call-and-response gospel romp to a family holiday jam—there are lots of surprises to unwrap under this CD's tree.
In addition to newly recorded holiday favorites (and a few off-the-beaten-holiday-path tunes), Let's Make a Christmas Memory includes a couple of Annie's favorite tracks from other projects she was asked to sing on—and is thrilled to be able to include on her own Christmas album.
A first for an Annie Sellick album, two of the songs were written by Annie and her husband, guitarist and harmonica player Pat Bergeson. The title track, “Let's Make a Christmas Memory" is a breezy taste of Christmas cheer. Annie scribbled it down on a cocktail napkin while she was sitting at her all-decorated-for-Christmas neighborhood pub. Pat proposed later that same month, and when they walked down the aisle, it was to a slower instrumental version of this song.
The lead track is an orchestral American songbook take on the traditional French carol “Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella," in which Annie's graceful vocals are accompanied by an entire symphony. Of the recording session for that song, Annie remembers: “Closing my eyes, I sent myself ice skating across a silver lake, and I sang."
In a swinging “Winter Wonderland," Annie's playful vocals conjure up a musical image of strutting (not just walking) through a park in winter, without a care in the world.
“The Christmas Waltz" features Annie's long-time musical collaborators and friends Joe Davidian on piano, Justin Varnes on drums, and Roger Spencer on bass for this lovely holiday standard.
“Baby It's Cold Outside" is a cold-night-steamy-love-affair duet with Matt Belsante, and their smooth, sensuous vocals and banter at the song's end leave no doubt that it's definitely hot inside!
The album's second writing collaboration between Annie and Pat is the lyrical, lilting “To Those Who Believe," a song for anyone who secretly needs a miracle to happen.
A lover of lyrics, especially those of the heart-wrenching sort, Annie chose the fine jazz ballad “That's What I Want for Christmas" to sing here, intimately accompanied by solo piano, played by Joe Davidian.
“Hurry Home for Christmas," a vocal duet with her husband Pat Bergeson, was recorded as a gift to his family who love this song. “They will die when they hear we recreated this Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme cult classic—a particularly precious surprise," says Annie.
Annie's inner child takes center stage in the swinging “A Marshmallow World"—and throws in a playful bit of scat singing as icing on top of the cake (angel food, of course).
“White Christmas" is a real family affair: Annie's mother was a folk singer in her youth, but the first time she and the whole family ever “jammed" together was on this song, sitting at Annie and Pat's kitchen table only last Christmas! Annie brought Mama back into the studio, along with her Dad on dobro and husband Pat on guitar, to record this beloved tune. Even the cello player is family: cousin Matt Slocum.
Joe Davidian again accompanies Annie on the wistful “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"—but that catch in Annie's voice makes you pause, and realize a “Merry Christmas" sometimes must be conjured from the inside.
Call-and-response gospel vocals behind Annie take us on a hallelujah-romp through “Where Was Baby Jesus Born," written by Rick Lang, a cut from his upcoming album That's What I Love about Christmas. The amazing back-up chorus vocals are by Vickie Carrico, Scat Springs, and Andrea Merritt.
“We Are One in the Spirit," a gypsy Christmas swing tune, features The Hot Club of Nashville with Richard Smith and Pat Bergeson on guitars, and guests Paul Kramer on fiddle and Dave Pomeroy on bass, on a live cut from Dave Christmas fundraiser for Room in the Inn.
Let's Make a Christmas Memory is Annie Sellick's gift to her favorite season, and to those fans, friends, and family who share it with her.
For more info, Annie's bio, or to listen to samples from the album, visit AnnieSellick
From Annie Sellick’s Reviews
“… utterly unique musical personality … Sellick's most attractive quality may be the manner in which she has transformed her influences into her own, immediately identifiable style. She's a comer." —Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
“Perky vocalist Annie Sellick, an original with her own way of phrasing that allows her tongue-in-cheek personality to emerge ... boasts remarkable range … keep your ears on Annie." —Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
“[She's] destined to perform ... tracks that alternately burn, sizzle and steam ... away from the nest and out into the bigger leagues." —Bob Doerschuk, Downbeat
“Ella's playfulness, Carmen's attitude, Betty's instincts and Anita's flair—what singer possesses such gifts yet has her own distinct sound? Annie Sellick. She touches everyone." —Greg Lee, program director WMOT Jazz Radio
Annie Sellick has garnered rave reviews and loyal fans around the world for her captivating renditions—sometimes playful, always sincere—from the jazz and standards repertoire. With Let's Make a Christmas Memory, her sixth release on the Chalice Music label, Sellick has compiled a celebratory album bringing in influences from beyond the jazz realm so there is something for everyone—a timeless, classic collection, that will be played Christmas after Christmas for years to come.
This is Sellick's most personal project to date, wrapped up in the meaningful and memory-laden season of Christmas. In these thirteen songs, she collaborates with nearly 100 Nashville music pros, including friends and family. She shares internal reflections, holiday images—all creating a medley of, in Annie's words, “how-I-see-the-world-each-December" songs.
While Annie calls jazz her “passion genre," she soaked up music of all kinds growing up in Music City USA, and she has drawn on those influences throughout her career, especially now in Let's Make a Christmas Memory. From jazz adaptations of holiday classics to a symphonic arrangement of a 16th-century French carol to a call-and-response gospel romp to a family holiday jam—there are lots of surprises to unwrap under this CD's tree.
In addition to newly recorded holiday favorites (and a few off-the-beaten-holiday-path tunes), Let's Make a Christmas Memory includes a couple of Annie's favorite tracks from other projects she was asked to sing on—and is thrilled to be able to include on her own Christmas album.
A first for an Annie Sellick album, two of the songs were written by Annie and her husband, guitarist and harmonica player Pat Bergeson. The title track, “Let's Make a Christmas Memory" is a breezy taste of Christmas cheer. Annie scribbled it down on a cocktail napkin while she was sitting at her all-decorated-for-Christmas neighborhood pub. Pat proposed later that same month, and when they walked down the aisle, it was to a slower instrumental version of this song.
The lead track is an orchestral American songbook take on the traditional French carol “Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella," in which Annie's graceful vocals are accompanied by an entire symphony. Of the recording session for that song, Annie remembers: “Closing my eyes, I sent myself ice skating across a silver lake, and I sang."
In a swinging “Winter Wonderland," Annie's playful vocals conjure up a musical image of strutting (not just walking) through a park in winter, without a care in the world.
“The Christmas Waltz" features Annie's long-time musical collaborators and friends Joe Davidian on piano, Justin Varnes on drums, and Roger Spencer on bass for this lovely holiday standard.
“Baby It's Cold Outside" is a cold-night-steamy-love-affair duet with Matt Belsante, and their smooth, sensuous vocals and banter at the song's end leave no doubt that it's definitely hot inside!
The album's second writing collaboration between Annie and Pat is the lyrical, lilting “To Those Who Believe," a song for anyone who secretly needs a miracle to happen.
A lover of lyrics, especially those of the heart-wrenching sort, Annie chose the fine jazz ballad “That's What I Want for Christmas" to sing here, intimately accompanied by solo piano, played by Joe Davidian.
“Hurry Home for Christmas," a vocal duet with her husband Pat Bergeson, was recorded as a gift to his family who love this song. “They will die when they hear we recreated this Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme cult classic—a particularly precious surprise," says Annie.
Annie's inner child takes center stage in the swinging “A Marshmallow World"—and throws in a playful bit of scat singing as icing on top of the cake (angel food, of course).
“White Christmas" is a real family affair: Annie's mother was a folk singer in her youth, but the first time she and the whole family ever “jammed" together was on this song, sitting at Annie and Pat's kitchen table only last Christmas! Annie brought Mama back into the studio, along with her Dad on dobro and husband Pat on guitar, to record this beloved tune. Even the cello player is family: cousin Matt Slocum.
Joe Davidian again accompanies Annie on the wistful “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"—but that catch in Annie's voice makes you pause, and realize a “Merry Christmas" sometimes must be conjured from the inside.
Call-and-response gospel vocals behind Annie take us on a hallelujah-romp through “Where Was Baby Jesus Born," written by Rick Lang, a cut from his upcoming album That's What I Love about Christmas. The amazing back-up chorus vocals are by Vickie Carrico, Scat Springs, and Andrea Merritt.
“We Are One in the Spirit," a gypsy Christmas swing tune, features The Hot Club of Nashville with Richard Smith and Pat Bergeson on guitars, and guests Paul Kramer on fiddle and Dave Pomeroy on bass, on a live cut from Dave Christmas fundraiser for Room in the Inn.
Let's Make a Christmas Memory is Annie Sellick's gift to her favorite season, and to those fans, friends, and family who share it with her.
For more info, Annie's bio, or to listen to samples from the album, visit AnnieSellick
From Annie Sellick’s Reviews
“… utterly unique musical personality … Sellick's most attractive quality may be the manner in which she has transformed her influences into her own, immediately identifiable style. She's a comer." —Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times
“Perky vocalist Annie Sellick, an original with her own way of phrasing that allows her tongue-in-cheek personality to emerge ... boasts remarkable range … keep your ears on Annie." —Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
“[She's] destined to perform ... tracks that alternately burn, sizzle and steam ... away from the nest and out into the bigger leagues." —Bob Doerschuk, Downbeat
“Ella's playfulness, Carmen's attitude, Betty's instincts and Anita's flair—what singer possesses such gifts yet has her own distinct sound? Annie Sellick. She touches everyone." —Greg Lee, program director WMOT Jazz Radio
