
2. Merry Christmas Darling
3. My Little Emmanuel
4. Away In A Manger
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Born in Washington DC in 1991, Jessie Kol grew up in Raleigh, NC where she found herself singing at a very young age. No sooner had she entered her teens then she was recording demos for friends and family as "Christmas gifts". Now embarking on her professional career, Jessie's debut EP was released last October and it turned out to be an iTunes hit. Like so many young female artists, Jessie's been compared to Norah Jones. But, for once, it actually fits.
Jessie's chosen milieu is Jazz, at least for the moment. But, like Norah Jones, Jessie's not content to limit herself musically. For this Christmas record, she chose Johnson Roberts for the arrangements and to co-produce the album. Roberts is a well known arranger, but his specialty has been Appalachian music. Jessie listened to Roberts' past arrangements and decided that his rural approach would bring new elements to her Jazz vocals. The result is a kind of lush simplicity, the product of a four-piece setting--piano, violin, cello and hammered dulcimer--behind Jessie's vocals.
This all too brief set should appeal to fans of Indie Pop, Folk, Jazz, and Traditional music. "Little Emmanuel" was to be released on iTunes on November 5, but I understand November 16 is the new release date (though you should keep an eye on iTunes, no pun intended, as digital distribution is full of surprises and, even if the full downloads aren't available right away, samples might be available by the 5th). Although there's currently no link there, Jessie promises that hard copies will be available through her web site. To get a preview, stop by our FREE List for instructions on getting a free track from Jessie's Christmas EP.