Hands down the most vibrant, festive and engaging jazz album of the 2019 holiday season, Christmas All The Way by international a capella sensation Accent is not only the most exhilarating way to make the spirits bright – it’s also a remarkable reflection of the notion that “it takes a village” to create Yuletide musical magic.
Everything begins with the lush, intricate, sweeping and soulful harmonies of the six-piece vocal ensemble whose members hail from Sweden, France, Canada, UK and the U.S. and joined forces via social media. Part throwback yet vibrantly contemporary, Accent has earned the praise of The Manhattan Transfer’s Alan Paul, who said, “You guys carry on the vocal group legacy.”
Building on their vocals throughout this ambitious work, their vocals are buoyed by a wide range of top artists and arrangers, from Gordon Goodwin (whose Big Phat Band introduces a whimsical “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”), Elliot Deutsch (“Let it Snow! Let It Snow!”), Nan Schwartz (“O Holy Night”) and Jorge Calandrelli (“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”) to The Budapest Scoring Orchestra, trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval and saxophonist George Shelby, whose soulful, punchy solo truly makes everything holly and jolly. Hang all the mistletoe – Accent’s got a winner!