Vocalist Andy James Interprets Some of Her Favorite Holiday Songs on “Bells Are Ringing” | Available Friday on Le Coq Records

On Bells Are Ringing, vocalist Andy James closes out 2022 with an album of holiday songs recorded over the last three years. It includes some of the same illustrious players that were on her previous Le Coq Records release, this year’s Rhythm in New York, including pianist Jon Cowherd, trumpeter Terell Stafford, saxophonist Marcus Strickland and percussionist

Alex Acuña.

Bells Are Ringing also features pianist Bill Cunliffe, who arranged many of album’s songs, trumpeter Rashawn Ross, saxophonists Bob Sheppard and Rick Margitza, keyboardist Ronnie Foster, bassist John Patitucci, drummers Vinnie Colaiuta and Joe LaBarbera and others.

James says the idea for Bells Are Ringing came about while she, Colaiuta and Patitucci were recording tracks for their 2021 Le Coq album An Evening with John Patitucci & Andy James at Capitol Studios, and decided it was time do some Christmas songs.

Below are James’ tracks notes for Bells Are Ringing:

Lovely tenor sax playing by Rick Margitza and a solo by Bob Sheppard makes this carol one of my really favorites to perform on stage! Bill Cunliffe’s arrangement is very interesting and great too!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by Richard B Smith; Piano – Bill Cunliffe, Drums – Ray Brinker, Bass – Kevin Axt, Guitar – Jake Langley, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Tenor Sax – Bob Sheppard (solo), Tenor Sax – Rick Margitza, Trumpet – Kye Palmer, Vocalist – Andy James, Alto Saxophone – Charles McNeal, Trombonist – Bob McChesney, Vibraphone – Lolly Allen, Baritone Saxophone – Brian Scanlon)

This has to be my homage to Nat King Cole’s iconic version. I recorded it at Capitol Studios with Nat’s very own Steinway piano. Now that’s some authenticity? Beautiful strings and lovely drums by one of my very favorite drummers, Joe La Barbera!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by Mel Torme and Robert Wells; Piano – Bill Cunliffe, Drums – Joe LaBarbera, Bass – Chris Colangelo, Guitar – Jake Langley, Vibraphone – Lolly Allen, Violin – Calabría McChesney, Vocalist – Andy James)

Bill Cunliffe on piano and Trumpet Rashawn Ross’s lovely introduction is the perfect start to this iconic carol! Then with an upbeat change in speed gave John Patitucci and Alex Acuna holding down such a wonderful grove and beat makes it so easy to sing with swing! Those two are really unique when playing together and always give me a thrill working with them!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by William Sandies; Piano – Bill Cunliffe (solo), Bass – John Patitucci, Drums – Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Guitar – Jake Langley, Trumpet – Rashawn Ross (solo), Tenor Sax – Ralph Moore, Vocalist – Andy James)

A wonderful song to sing with fun and joy, with Cunliffe’s swinging arrangement, easy as pie! Rashawn Ross on trumpet with some great fills! Ably assisted by Rick Margitza, Bob Sheppard, Charles McNeal, Bob McChesney and Brian Scanlon on horns! Alex Acuna’s colors are lovely!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane; Trumpet – Rashawn Ross (solo), Piano – Bill Cunliffe, Drums – Ray Brinker, Bass – Kevin Axt, Guitar – Jake Langley, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Tenor Sax – Bob Sheppard (solo), Tenor Sax – Rick Margitza, Trumpet – Kye Palmer, Alto Saxophone – Charles McNeal, Trombonist – Bob McChesney, Vibraphone – Lolly Allen, Baritone Saxophone – Brian Scanlon, Vocalist – Andy James)

An original Christmas Song written by myself, Piero Pata and Jon Cowherd, also arranged by Cowherd. It’s the title track on the album but in this case it’s a musical number for the band. I’ll put the lyrics on it one day, maybe next year? With a great band of Jon Cowherd, Alex Acuna, Clarence Penn, Mick Moreno, Terell Stafford, Michael Dease, Marcus Strickland and Bob Sheppard.

(Arranged by Jon Cowherd, Composed by Andy James, Piero Pata and Jon Cowherd; Tenor Sax – Marcus Strickland (solo), Piano – Jon Cowherd, Percussionist – Alex Acuña, Drums – Clarence Penn, Bass – Christopher Thomas, Trumpet – Terell Stafford, Trombonist – Michael Dease, Alto Sax – Bob Sheppard, Alto Sax – Rashawn Ross (melody solo))

This album really came about when myself, Vinnie Colaiuta and John Patitucci were recording at Capitol Studios on a past album, An Evening with John Patitucci & Andy James, and decided it was time for some Christmas songs? This Austrian Christmas carol has always been one of my favorites and was our first song recorded! But I must say, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and John Patitucci on bass played so beautifully, with sensitivity that allowed me to sing with pathos and the feeling I really needed to express!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by Franz Xavere Gruber; Piano – Bill Cunliffe, Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta, Bass – John Patitucci, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Trumpet – Rashawn Ross (solo), Vocalist – Andy James)

It was time to get my old friend Ronnie Foster to play the melody line and fills on this original Christmas song instead of my vocals, I always try to show my follow musicians off. This original is in a Motown jazz style, also written by myself, Pata and Cowherd. We are becoming quite a writing team together these days! Ronnie will always give you something special to listen to. With Marcus Strickland on tenor sax, great! I really enjoyed working on this one. I’ll put the lyrics on another time soon? But also on this occasion, it’s for the band!

(Arranged by Jon Cowherd, Composed by Andy James, Piero Pata and Jon Cowherd; Piano – Jon Cowherd, Tenor Sax – Marcus Strickland (solo), Organ Melody – Ronnie Foster, Percussion – Alex Acuña, Drums – Clarence Penn, Bass – Christopher Thomas, Trumpet – Terell Stafford, Trombonist – Michael Dease, Alto Sax – Bob Sheppard)

Such a great Christmas carol, I always remember as a little girl sitting around the fireplace with my family watching reruns of the film White Christmas with Bing Cosby and Rosemary Clooney. I loved the film so much I just had to sing this song on the album! With this lovely string arrangement by Bill Cunliffe, perfect!

(Arranged by Bill Cunliffe, Composed by Irving Berlin; Piano – Bill Cunliffe, Drums – Joe LaBarbera, Bass – Chris Colangelo, Guitar – Jake Langley, Vibraphone – Lolly Allen, Violin – Calabría McChesney, Vocalist – Andy James)

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