Search - Jason Paul Curtis :: Lovers Holiday

"Lovers Holiday" was born of necessity for new Christmas songs. Swinglab (pianist Ray Mabalot, bassist John Dahlman, drummer Woody Hume, and vocalist Jason Paul Curtis) played four nights a week the month of December 2011, to sprawling Christmas crowds at Washington, D.C.'s National Harbor. They soon learned that an hour set of Christmas jazz standards (great as they be) ran a little thin after the first "Winter Wonderland". By mixing in standards, especially ones with wintery lyrics, the quartet struck a fresh, balanced mix that both adults and children could listen to for hours. As early as January, 2012, Jason began writing new Christmas songs, beginning with the title track, "Lovers Holiday". In his own words, "I wanted holiday songs for couples, new couples, young couples, but also couples going through the experience of creating Christmas for their children and looking for that romantic moment when the kids are asleep." Four more round out the originals list: "Good This Year", "Blue Friday", "Our Time of Year" and "Winter Wind." Special guest big band Swing Machine weighs in on a 60s swank arrangement of I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm as well as the new Our Time of Year, both arranged by Scott Ragsdale.