Amber Weekes The Gathering

Amber Weekes
The Gathering
Amber Inn Productions

I was captivated by Amber Weekes' wonderful album, "Pure Imagination" from earlier in 2020. This latest release is a wonderful Holiday album backed by an all-star group of musicians, including strings and horns. She utilizes Mark Cargill's arrangements along with a cast of top Los Angeles-based musicians. These include pianists Josh Nelson, Tony Campodonico, and Eddy Olivieri; bassists John B. Williams, Adam Cohen, and Kevin Brandon; drummers Fritz Wise, Sinclair Lott, and Nathaniel Scott; guitarists Paul Jackson, Jr., Doug MacDonald, and Jacques Lesure; tenor-saxophonist Rickey Woodard; trumpeter Andrew Carney; and a string section.

Weekes enchants with her honey-voice, the clarity of her diction, her phrasing, and her vocal dynamics. With Josh Nelson's elegant piano, Carney's muted trumpet, and Cargill's lush string arrangement, she immediately connects to the listener with "The Christmas Waltz." Then she embraces "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with an understated, whispered vocal set against a light accompaniment. There is superb acoustic guitar from Paul Jackson, Jr. Cargill provides a hard-swinging arrangement for Weekes' flirty vocal for "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," with Rocky Woodward's sterling tenor sax in the spotlight as well. Jacques Lesure's bluesy guitar adds to the atmosphere of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve."

Saxophonist Woodward adds his robust playing to the playful swing of "Winter Wonderland," which is followed by a soft, sweet rendition of "Silent Night." Weekes contributed the lyrics to the joyous title track Cargill, and guitarist Gregory Cook wrote the music for. With backing vocals and Mark Cargill adding a violin solo, this track celebrates families gathering for the holiday season. It is an exuberant end to this delightful, exquisite holiday jazz vocal recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist.