Search - Various Artists :: Christmas at Doobie Shea

Grooving acoustic holiday music with jazz & swing influences

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 08/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Playing Time - 44:34 -- Grooving acoustic holiday music with jazz and swing influences is presented on this 1997 project from Virginia's Doobie Shea studios. The Tony Williamson Trio is Robbie Link on bass, Michael "Diamond" Thompson on guitar, and Tony Williamson on mandolin. Since the mid-1970s, Williamson had played extensively with each musician separately, doing jazz standards with Link, and mostly ragtime with Thompson. On a fateful day in July of '97, the trio decorated a little Christmas tree, turned the air con down to a snowman's setting, and donned Santa hats. The recording session nearly didn't happen due to a car accident that Thompson was involved in two weeks before. But Diamond insisted that the show must go on, and though bruised and bent, he showed up ready to play. His guitar, a 1906 Martin 0-30, had been damaged in the wreck, so Williamson supplied the vintage 0-42 and 00-40 that Thompson played on this session. Williamson played his 1924 Gibson F-5 mandolin, signed by Lloyd Loar.The trio demonstrates proficiency with familiar carols like "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" and "Greensleeves," but they seem even more comfy with swing numbers like "Let It Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" and "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bell Rock." The former includes some mandola, mandocello, and classical guitar, while the latter features Link on an interesting bowed bull fiddle introduction to the melody. "We Three Kings" made me chuckle as they started the carol with blues riffs and stringbends. The carol eventually seques into a short uptempo bluegrass interlude before its funky close. I can tell these guys have a sense of humor and have great fun with their music. So why not give "Chipmunk Song" a Latin feel? Just who says it can't be played like a samba? That one just might get you dancing around the Christmas tree during a break in the gift wrapping. And if country, ragtime or classical are more your cup 'o tea, check out the Trio's covers of "Blue Christmas," "Reindeer Rag," and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." This could be the only version of George Lamb's "Reindeer Rag" that has ever been recorded, as Diamond Thompson learned it from a piano roll.This album comes to an end all too quickly with its reflective "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." String along with these swing cats and whether your goal is a "merry little" holiday or a joyfully big one, you'll want the Tony Williamson Trio's music right there with you. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"