It’s beginning to look a lot like you-know-what.
And so, on this day, I am crowning Nashville’s king and queen of Christmas 2016. They are Chris Young and Jennifer Nettles, who have this year’s finest new Music Row holiday albums. They sing their faces off on It Must Be Christmas and To Celebrate Christmas, respectively. Buy them both, and your tree trimming party will be a smash.
Those two share the Disc of the Day award. Because we have no newcomers here, there is no DisCovery Award this week.
TRISHA YEARWOOD/Santa Baby
Writers: Joan Javits/Tony Springer/Phil Springer; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Tamir (ASCAP); Pearl (track)
– Christmas Together is the first duet album by Garth and Trisha. It is a Target exclusive. While he has his moments on it (”Ugly Christmas Sweater”), her solo performances steal the show. She brings just the right kittenish, mercenary purr to this perennially entertaining delight. “Hard Candy Christmas” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” are also Trisha standouts. He has a duet with James Taylor on a Thanksgiving tune.
KACEY MUSGRAVES/Mele Kalikimaka
Writer: R. Alex Anderson; Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Misa Arriaga & Kyle Ryan; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– A Very Kacey Christmas is a blast from start to finish. Where else can you find cha-cha, reggae, western-swing and Hawaiian arrangements on one holiday collection? Her star collaborators include Leon Bridges (”Present Without a Bow”), Willie Nelson (the weed-themed “A Willie Nice Christmas”) and, most notably The Quebe Sisters on this Hawaiian tune as well as on “Let It Snow.” Heartily recommended.
BRETT ELDREDGE & MEGHAN TRAINOR/Baby It’s Cold Outside
Writers: Frank Loesser; Producers: Jay Newland/Rob Mounsey; Publisher: Frank, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Brett went to New York to record his Glow holiday collection, which is full of brassy, old-school pop charts. His imitation of Harry Connick Jr. is spot-on in the vocal department. So if that’s what you’re looking for this season, climb aboard. But if you are seeking a country Christmas album by a country singer, this is not it. Also, he and Trainor both lack the wit and wink that should be in this performance.
REBA/Winter Wonderland
Writers: Felix Bernard/Richard Smith; Producers: Reba/Doug Sizemore; Publishers: WB, ASCAP; Nash Icon (track)
– Reba’s My Kind of Christmas is a Cracker Barrel exclusive. This collection throws you a bit of a curve ball. There is no band. It is just a singer and a pianist. And, surprise, it works. When the singer is as ornamented as Reba and the piano player is as creative and inventive as Catherine Marx, you enjoy every note. It starts with this standard and adds 10 more very, very familiar tunes.
CHRIS YOUNG & ALAN JACKSON/There’s a New Kid in Town
Writers: Don Cook/Curly Putman/Keith Whitley; Producers: Corey Crowder/Chris Young; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; RCA (track)
– Chris’s It Must Be Christmas is THE essential holiday country collection to own this year. Boyz II Men join him on “Silent Night.” Brad Paisley duets on “The First Noel.” Alan Jackson is his partner on this modern Nashville Christmas classic, which I never tire of hearing. Other stunners include a fantastic new seasonal song called “Under the Weather” and a ferociously rocking treatment of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” This man is a singer’s singer, and you need this music in your life. What a gift.
JENNIFER NETTLES & IDINIA MENZEL/Little Drummer Boy
Writers: Katharine K. Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry Simeone; Producer: Julian Raymond; Publishers: EMI/International Korwin/EMI Mills/Sony-ATV; Big Machine (track)
– Jennifer’s To Celebrate Christmas is a triumph. This lady inhabits the holiday repertoire like few others can. She totally rocks “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” offers a completely unexpected delight with “Celebrate Me Home” and brings fellow vocal goddess Andra Day along with her on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Whether it’s “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Circle of Love” or “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” these are performances that will pin your ears back. She doesn’t really have the pipes for “O Holy Night,” but more than makes up for that misstep via this collaboration with Idina Menzel. It is, simply, the best version of this standard ever.
RASCAL FLATTS/Deck The Halls
Writers: traditional; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publisher: public domain; Big Machine (track)
– I’m all for creative arrangements. But here and in several other places on the CD The Greatest Gift of All, the group takes leave of traditional melody and goes off into aural parts unknown. At a slender 10 tracks, this is the briefest of this year’s Nashville holiday offerings.
AMY GRANT/Tennessee Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol CMG
– Judging by my informal survey of local retailers, Amy’s new Christmas album is the hit of the season. It seems to be sold out everywhere and is hard to find. With reason: Tennessee Christmas is a lovely record. The arrangements twinkle like holiday lights. Her vocals are luminous. The repertoire is a wintery wonderland. One nice touch is the fact that she interjects spoken-word passages about her fondest holiday memories.
SELAH/Rose of Bethlehem
Writers: Lowell Alexander; Producers: Jason Kyle Saetveit, Todd Smith, Allan Hall & Nicol Sponberg; Publishers: Birdwing/EMI, ASCAP; Curb (track)
– File this one under “arty.” Selah is a CCM vocal trio with a penchant for elaborately arranged performances. No one is a hair-raising singer, but when they combine their voices, magic happens. Dolly Parton guests on her own tune “Once Upon a Christmas,” pop singer Plumb drops by for “Mary Sweet Mary” and the Annie Moses Band appears on a medley. This title tune is typical of the CD’s tone. The record gets bonus points for being dominated by newer songs, rather than standards. It is also l-o-n-n-n-ng, at 15 tracks.
LORETTA LYNN/White Christmas Blue
Writers: Lynn/Shawn Camp; Producers: Patsy Lynn Russell/John Carter Cash; Publishers: Sure Fire/Scamporee/International Dog, BMI; Legacy (track)
– Loretta Lynn and Shawn Camp win the award for the best new country Christmas song of 2016, and he harmonizes with the legend on its catchy choruses. It is the title tune and standout track of her new LP, which is available on vinyl. The other groovy tunes are her self-penned “To Heck With Old Santa Claus” and “Country Christmas.” But both of these were on her 1966 Christmas album, as were “Blue Christmas,” “Away in a Manger” and “Frosty the Snowman,” all of which are reprised here. More original material would have helped this project, since my thoughts drifted when she sang overly familiar standards. One other highlight is her reading of Clement Moore’s classic 1822 poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Plans Facilities Upgrade
/by Sarah SkatesThis comes following recent updates to the building, including a new information desk in the conservatory, and replacing neon exterior lighting with energy-efficient LED lighting. During 2016, the organization also revamped parts of Historic RCA Studio B on Music Row.
The CMHoF operates in a $100 million facility, between the original cost of the building and its 2014 expansion.
The newly-renovated restrooms will be modeled after the 2014 upgrades for a consistent look, all designed by Tuck Hinton Architects. The 10 restrooms spanning four floors have not been updated since the building opened in 2001. Since then it has welcomed over 8.5 million guests, including more than one million visitors during each of the past two years—adding up to expected wear and tear.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Sr. VP of financial services and operations Nina Burghard told the Nashville Post, “As with all capital projects, we underwent an extensive and competitive bidding process, resulting in our contracting the job for less than what was originally bid.”
American Constructors will handle the project which is expected to be complete by March 2017.
Meghan Trainor Cancels Remaining Tour Dates For 2016
/by Jessica NicholsonMeghan Trainor. Photo: Epic Records
Meghan Trainor has canceled the remainder of her performances for 2016, due to an illness.
The 22-year-old “All About That Bass” and “Dear Future Husband” singer announced via Instagram on Thursday (Dec. 8) that she has been put on “strict vocal rest” for two weeks.
Trainor had been slated to perform at the 96.5-FM TIC All Star Christmas concert in Connecticut Thursday (Dec. 8), at Z100’s Jingle Ball 2016 in Madison Square Garden in New York City Friday (Dec. 9), at HOT 99.5-FM’s Jingle Ball 2016 in Washington D.C. Monday (Dec. 12), at Power 96.1-FM’s Jingle Ball 2016 in Atlanta on Friday (Dec. 16), and at the Y100 Jingle Ball 2016 concert in Florida on Sunday (Dec. 18).
Last year, the singer was also forced to cancel tour dates due to vocal problems.
See Trainor’s Instagram message to fans below:
MusicRowPics: Terra Bella
/by Jessica NicholsonTerra Bella with MusicRow owner/publisher Sherod Robertson
Seven years ago, Martina Otterbeck was a competitive karaoke singer in California’s San Joaquin Valley when she met guitarist Joseph Costa.
“I was looking for free guitar lessons, and Joe was in a band,” recalls Martina. “We had a mutual Top 8 friend on MySpace, so we agreed to meet.”
Joseph’s family had been farming in the Central Valley for more than 100 years, but he was drawn to a career in music. Meanwhile, Martina was rodeoing, but wanted chase her passion for singing.
The meeting led to love, marriage, and forming the duo Terra Bella. In August 2013, Joseph and Martina Costa followed their dreams to Nashville, making the 2,200-mile move from California.
The duo recently visited MusicRow‘s office, where they previewed three tracks from their six-song EP Road To Forever, including single “You’ve Got That Somethin’,” “I’m Down,” and the nostalgic, folksy “Hey Mama,” co-penned with Robert Williford. The project was produced by Johnny Garcia, longtime guitar player for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.
“When we moved to [Nashville], I got pretty homesick for a second there and it was on our second anniversary,” Joe recalls. “Martina was mad at me for spending too much money on our anniversary. I remember missing home and thinking, ‘I wish we could go see our parents.’ That led to writing ‘Hey Mama.'”
Pictured (L-R): MusicRow‘s Troy Stephenson, Terra Bella and MusicRow’s Sherod Robertson
Though “Hey Mama” would become the song that would capture Garcia’s attention, the connection to Garcia came via family members in Texas.
“Part of Martina’s family lives in the Rio Grande Valley. We were down there visiting, and her grandmother threw a big party and invited a cousin, who was also a musician. We got to chatting and started jamming, and he said, ‘Do you guys know Johnny Garcia?’ He was a friend of Johnny’s and sent him our music.”
Garcia was impressed with the duo’s songs, harmonies, and onstage chemistry, and agreed to produce them. “He took Terra Bella and made us a better version of ourselves,” Martina says.
“We’ve really worked hard to get where we are, but that’s all we know,” Martina concludes. “That comes from the farming and ranching background. We are not afraid to get our hands dirty.”
Terra Bella with the MusicRow staff.
Historic Music Row Building Faces Demolition
/by Sarah SkatesThe building at 1815 Division St. in Nashville dates back to 1929. Photo: Copyright 2016 Google
The last remaining pre-World War II building in the Music Row area is facing demolition. According to the Nashville Post, the property at 1815 Division St. was purchased for $2.6 million by real estate investor Salah Ayesh. He planned to tear it down in August until a 90-day hold was put on issuing the demolition permit. That hold has now been lifted.
Ayesh plans to meet Thursday, Dec. 15 with representatives from multiple government entities to discuss the building’s future.
The Nashville Post reports that the building opened in 1929 and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Its storied history includes time as the Florence Crittenton Home for Unwed Mothers.
Kenny Chesney And CMA To Donate $500,000 To Smoky Mountain Relief
/by Sarah Skates2016 CMA Pinnacle Award winner Kenny Chesney and CMA are matching funds to donate $500,000 ($250,000 each) to aid families impacted by recent wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Photo: Courtesy Blue Chair Bay/Columbia Nashville
Kenny Chesney and CMA are combining resources to aid families devastated by recent wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tenn. The wildfires were responsible for 14 deaths and more than 2,400 homes and business that were damaged or destroyed.
A native of East Tennessee, Chesney has been a vocal and ardent supporter of the ongoing relief effort.
CMA and Chesney are collectively contributing $500,000 for the cause ($250,000 each). A portion of the proceeds will be earmarked for Dolly Parton and her My People Fund, which provides $1,000 each month for up to six months to Sevier County families who lost their homes in the wildfires.
Parton, Big & Rich, Amy Grant, Chris Janson, Alison Krauss, LOCASH, Montgomery Gentry, Reba, Kenny Rogers, Michael W. Smith, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, and more will perform during “Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund” telethon airing Tuesday, Dec. 13 (8:00 PM/ET) on Great American Country. AXS TV, RFD, and the Heartland Network have been added as broadcast partners.
“Smoky Mountains Rise” also will be simulcast across multiple radio chains, including iHeart Media’s digital and select on-air platforms, Cumulus Media’s NASH Nights LIVE, TuneIn’s Country Roads channel and several other platforms. USAToday.com and USA Today National Network plans to live steam the telethon.
Weekly Chart Report (12/09/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
Taylor Swift Teams With ACM To Pledge Combined $200K For Dolly Telethon
/by Eric T. ParkerTaylor Swift receives Milestone Award at 50th Annual ACM Awards. Photo: Courtesy of ACM
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) and the organization’s charitable arm, ACM Lifting Lives, have pledged $100,000 in advance of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund telethon, airing Tues., Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET on Great American Country (GAC). Taylor Swift has pledged to match the California organizations’ donation, bringing the total amount to $200,000.
All monies raised during the telethon will go to the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, established by Parton to assist families affected by the recent, devastating Gatlinburg fires in Sevier County, Tennessee.
“The Academy and ACM Lifting Lives are honored to contribute in a meaningful way to Dolly’s heroic efforts to help the people of her hometown – and when Taylor heard what we were planning, she offered to match our gift, which gives it that much more impact,” said Tiffany Moon, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Academy. “We are so grateful to Taylor for her support to the Academy’s charitable efforts through the years, and for helping us and Dolly Parton assist families in need at a time of crisis.”
The My People Fund has already pledged to provide $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose primary residence (renters and homeowners) is uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.
Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. Contributions may also be made via mail to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
Chris Stapleton, Amy Grant Among Eight Added To Dolly Parton Gatlinburg Telethon
/by Jessica NicholsonChris Stapleton, Chris Young, Big & Rich, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, LOCASH, Chris Janson and Montgomery Gentry are just a few of the new names added to Dolly Parton‘s telethon Smoky Mountains Rise: A Benefit for the My People Fund. Reba, Kenny Rogers and Alison Krauss were previously announced.
The event is set for Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET. Three new broadcast partners have also been added, including AXS TV, RFD, and The Heartland Network. In addition, USAToday.com and USA Today National Networks to live stream the telethon on their affiliate newspaper websites. Smoky Mountains Rise also will be simulcast across multiple radio chains, including iHeart Media’s digital and select on-air platforms, Cumulus Media’s NASH Nights LIVE, TuneIn’s Country Roads channel, and several other platforms which are set to be announced shortly.
The nationally-broadcast, three-hour telethon seeks to raise money for the Dollywood Foundation My People Fund, established by Parton, The Dollywood Company and Parton’s dinner theaters in the wake of last week’s wildfires in the entertainment icon’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. All of the artists are donating their performances to help the effort.
“I’m truly honored that these artists are giving their time and energy to help us raise money for everyone affected by the wildfires,” Parton said. “I’ve got so many great friends in the industry, and I’m so proud that they were so ready to step up and help me help my people in the Smoky Mountains through this telethon and the My People Fund.”
The My People Fund will provide $1,000 each month to Sevier County families whose homes are uninhabitable or were completely destroyed in the recent Smoky Mountain wildfires. Any family who lost their primary residence (renters and homeowners) due to the wildfires in Sevier County will be eligible. A pre-application for those affected is available at dollywoodfoundation.org.
During the telethon, viewers will be asked to call 1-866-CARE MORE to donate to the My People Fund.
Anyone who would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the My People Fund may visit dollywoodfoundation.org. For those wishing to send donations via mail, those contributions should be sent to: My People Fund, c/o Dollywood Foundation, 111 Dollywood Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
Nashville Agent Shari Lewin Named Partner At WME
/by Jessica NicholsonShari Lewin. Photo: Jake Harsh
WME agent Shari Lewin, who joined WME’s Nashville office in 2011, has been named as partner, it was announced this week.
Lewin focuses on endorsement deals and brand partnership opportunities for the agency’s entire country roster.
In 2016, Lewin was responsible for landing a television campaign for Brad Paisley to be featured in Nationwide’s “Song for Every Side” campaign. She also designed and executed a 360-deal with Field & Stream naming Jason Aldean the first celebrity spokesperson for the private label hunting / fishing brand sold at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
She secured Nitto Tires as the presenting sponsor and Budweiser as an additional sponsor of Florida Georgia Line’s Dig Your Roots Tour, and she secured Bayer as the title sponsor for Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour for the second year in a row.
She is also a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
DISClaimer: Have Yourself A Merry, Music-Filled Christmas
/by Robert K OermannIt’s beginning to look a lot like you-know-what.
And so, on this day, I am crowning Nashville’s king and queen of Christmas 2016. They are Chris Young and Jennifer Nettles, who have this year’s finest new Music Row holiday albums. They sing their faces off on It Must Be Christmas and To Celebrate Christmas, respectively. Buy them both, and your tree trimming party will be a smash.
Those two share the Disc of the Day award. Because we have no newcomers here, there is no DisCovery Award this week.
TRISHA YEARWOOD/Santa Baby
Writers: Joan Javits/Tony Springer/Phil Springer; Producer: Mark Miller; Publishers: Tamir (ASCAP); Pearl (track)
– Christmas Together is the first duet album by Garth and Trisha. It is a Target exclusive. While he has his moments on it (”Ugly Christmas Sweater”), her solo performances steal the show. She brings just the right kittenish, mercenary purr to this perennially entertaining delight. “Hard Candy Christmas” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” are also Trisha standouts. He has a duet with James Taylor on a Thanksgiving tune.
KACEY MUSGRAVES/Mele Kalikimaka
Writer: R. Alex Anderson; Producers: Kacey Musgraves, Misa Arriaga & Kyle Ryan; Publishers: none listed; Mercury (track)
– A Very Kacey Christmas is a blast from start to finish. Where else can you find cha-cha, reggae, western-swing and Hawaiian arrangements on one holiday collection? Her star collaborators include Leon Bridges (”Present Without a Bow”), Willie Nelson (the weed-themed “A Willie Nice Christmas”) and, most notably The Quebe Sisters on this Hawaiian tune as well as on “Let It Snow.” Heartily recommended.
BRETT ELDREDGE & MEGHAN TRAINOR/Baby It’s Cold Outside
Writers: Frank Loesser; Producers: Jay Newland/Rob Mounsey; Publisher: Frank, ASCAP; Warner Bros.
– Brett went to New York to record his Glow holiday collection, which is full of brassy, old-school pop charts. His imitation of Harry Connick Jr. is spot-on in the vocal department. So if that’s what you’re looking for this season, climb aboard. But if you are seeking a country Christmas album by a country singer, this is not it. Also, he and Trainor both lack the wit and wink that should be in this performance.
REBA/Winter Wonderland
Writers: Felix Bernard/Richard Smith; Producers: Reba/Doug Sizemore; Publishers: WB, ASCAP; Nash Icon (track)
– Reba’s My Kind of Christmas is a Cracker Barrel exclusive. This collection throws you a bit of a curve ball. There is no band. It is just a singer and a pianist. And, surprise, it works. When the singer is as ornamented as Reba and the piano player is as creative and inventive as Catherine Marx, you enjoy every note. It starts with this standard and adds 10 more very, very familiar tunes.
CHRIS YOUNG & ALAN JACKSON/There’s a New Kid in Town
Writers: Don Cook/Curly Putman/Keith Whitley; Producers: Corey Crowder/Chris Young; Publishers: none listed, ASCAP/BMI; RCA (track)
– Chris’s It Must Be Christmas is THE essential holiday country collection to own this year. Boyz II Men join him on “Silent Night.” Brad Paisley duets on “The First Noel.” Alan Jackson is his partner on this modern Nashville Christmas classic, which I never tire of hearing. Other stunners include a fantastic new seasonal song called “Under the Weather” and a ferociously rocking treatment of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” This man is a singer’s singer, and you need this music in your life. What a gift.
JENNIFER NETTLES & IDINIA MENZEL/Little Drummer Boy
Writers: Katharine K. Davis/Henry Onorati/Harry Simeone; Producer: Julian Raymond; Publishers: EMI/International Korwin/EMI Mills/Sony-ATV; Big Machine (track)
– Jennifer’s To Celebrate Christmas is a triumph. This lady inhabits the holiday repertoire like few others can. She totally rocks “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” offers a completely unexpected delight with “Celebrate Me Home” and brings fellow vocal goddess Andra Day along with her on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” Whether it’s “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “Circle of Love” or “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” these are performances that will pin your ears back. She doesn’t really have the pipes for “O Holy Night,” but more than makes up for that misstep via this collaboration with Idina Menzel. It is, simply, the best version of this standard ever.
RASCAL FLATTS/Deck The Halls
Writers: traditional; Producers: Jay DeMarcus/Rascal Flatts; Publisher: public domain; Big Machine (track)
– I’m all for creative arrangements. But here and in several other places on the CD The Greatest Gift of All, the group takes leave of traditional melody and goes off into aural parts unknown. At a slender 10 tracks, this is the briefest of this year’s Nashville holiday offerings.
AMY GRANT/Tennessee Christmas
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol CMG
– Judging by my informal survey of local retailers, Amy’s new Christmas album is the hit of the season. It seems to be sold out everywhere and is hard to find. With reason: Tennessee Christmas is a lovely record. The arrangements twinkle like holiday lights. Her vocals are luminous. The repertoire is a wintery wonderland. One nice touch is the fact that she interjects spoken-word passages about her fondest holiday memories.
SELAH/Rose of Bethlehem
Writers: Lowell Alexander; Producers: Jason Kyle Saetveit, Todd Smith, Allan Hall & Nicol Sponberg; Publishers: Birdwing/EMI, ASCAP; Curb (track)
– File this one under “arty.” Selah is a CCM vocal trio with a penchant for elaborately arranged performances. No one is a hair-raising singer, but when they combine their voices, magic happens. Dolly Parton guests on her own tune “Once Upon a Christmas,” pop singer Plumb drops by for “Mary Sweet Mary” and the Annie Moses Band appears on a medley. This title tune is typical of the CD’s tone. The record gets bonus points for being dominated by newer songs, rather than standards. It is also l-o-n-n-n-ng, at 15 tracks.
LORETTA LYNN/White Christmas Blue
Writers: Lynn/Shawn Camp; Producers: Patsy Lynn Russell/John Carter Cash; Publishers: Sure Fire/Scamporee/International Dog, BMI; Legacy (track)
– Loretta Lynn and Shawn Camp win the award for the best new country Christmas song of 2016, and he harmonizes with the legend on its catchy choruses. It is the title tune and standout track of her new LP, which is available on vinyl. The other groovy tunes are her self-penned “To Heck With Old Santa Claus” and “Country Christmas.” But both of these were on her 1966 Christmas album, as were “Blue Christmas,” “Away in a Manger” and “Frosty the Snowman,” all of which are reprised here. More original material would have helped this project, since my thoughts drifted when she sang overly familiar standards. One other highlight is her reading of Clement Moore’s classic 1822 poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”