Joey DeFrancesco Holiday CDs

On his “Home for the Holidays” CD set, Joey DeFrancesco and his comrades bring fresh life to Christmas favorites while respecting the core melodies that have made them so popular. Give KUVO a gift of $50 or more before 1 p.m. MST, Dec. 7 and you’ll receive this 2-CD set just in time for the holidays!

“The thing about a jazz Christmas album is that you play the melodies pretty much intact,” he explains. “I stuck to the harmonic element of the melodies, but then you go into the improvisation on the solos. That is when we take our liberties.”

A fine example of DeFrancesco’s refreshing approach to the material is his transformation of “Blue Christmas,” the closing song on The Party. The potent combination of fluent piano and guitar, resonant tenor saxophone and Joey’s virile vocals chase away the melancholy of the lyrics, turning the tune into a vibrant and upbeat delight.

Give KUVO a gift of $50 or more before 1 p.m. MST, Dec. 7 and you’ll receive this 2-CD set in return!