A Christmas Ask

As we near Christmas Day, I have an ask of you.  I know that you all are fans of Christmas music, and most likely fans of a broad swathe of music in general.  Jazz, blues, rock, pop, country, zydeco, classical, electronica, metal - music is a language that, no matter the dialect, is understood by all.

Music is powerful.  It can be a teacher, a healer, a pick-me-up, a muse, an energizer.  It can bring joy and peace.  And, for children, especially those who may be in less-than-ideal circumstances beyond their control, music can provide solace, focus, and a feeling of accomplishment that they may not be able to get elsewhere.

I am asking you to consider supporting two charity organizations, each of which was founded by dear friends of mine.  Each organization is focused on providing music and musical education to children, but in far different ways.  Please read on to learn more.

Music Across Borders

Music Across Borders was founded by my friends Nick and Lindsey Jarrett here in Kansas City.  Music Across Borders is a 501(c)(3) organization that sprang from the success of their pilot project, Strings for Uganda, where violins were provided to the children in an orphanage in Uganda, in partnership with a nearby school where the children received musical education.  Music Across Borders aims to expand beyond the single partnership of Strings for Uganda, and provide musical instruments and education to other places where the children would otherwise have very little, if any, opportunity for learning musical performance.  You can learn more about their projects, mission, and the good folks who serve on their board.  And it's easy to support Music Across Borders via a donation on their website.

Music Across Borders is a brand new charitable organization, formed just this year (2018), but I am certain that they will succeed.  I can barely imagine how the children respond to being able to learn and play a musical instrument.  

Learn more on their website and their Facebook page.

Donate to Music Across Borders

Song Rise Arts

Song Rise Arts is also a brand new nonprofit organization, created in 2018 by Kelley McRae.  Kelly is a singer-songwriter who, along with her husband Matt, sold their Brooklyn apartment back in 2011 and hit the road in their VW van, touring the US non-stop, playing house concerts, bars, and venues of all sizes - pretty much anywhere they could get a gig.  I met Kelley when I booked her for a living room concert at my place, through internet contact only.  I didn't meet Kelley until she and Matt rang our doorbell before the show.  We've been friends ever since, and I've followed their musical careers which have led them across the USA a few more times as well as a couple tours in Europe.  Kelley and Matt have settled down now in the Austin, TX area, and devoted themselves to their music,  songwriting, and teaching.

Song Rise Arts grew from Kelley's love of sharing her songwriting gifts with others, especially those who may not have the privilege of this kind of education.  Song Rise Arts' mission statement begins with "to provide low-income and underserved youth with music education, mentorship and professional performance experience."  

The wonderful programs Song Rise Arts provides are free songwriting workshops, in partnership with other Austin-area nonprofits, for LGBTQ+ youth, refugee girls and foster kids, and the Young Artist Program, where they will provide ten students with free songwriting classes, individual instruction and mentorship with professional Austin musicians.  

Donate to Song Rise Arts

Song Rise Arts Facebook page

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If you've enjoyed Merry & Bright during this Christmas season, or are a long time visitor here, please consider supporting one or both of these great organizations.  I love their missions and their passion of reaching children through music.  Click their 'donate' links and send them $25, $10, $5, or whatever you can afford.  I truly appreciate your support and thank you for any gifts you can send to Song Rise Arts and Music Across Borders.

Carillon, Vibrachord, and Orchestra, Oh My!

Today's share is "Christmas Bells" by Paul Mickelson, from the Supreme Recordings label. 

Mr. Mickelson, according to the album sleeve, is an ordained minister in addition to being a musician.  Playing the symphonic carillon and the vibrachord and with orchestra accompaniment, "Christmas Bells" is packed with 25 (25!) tracks.  They are mostly classic carols leaning to the spiritual side, but there are a few that we don't often see, such as "As With Gladness Men of Old", "There's a Song in the Air", and "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne".  Alongside "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", "Good King Wenceslas" and the perennial favorite "O Holy Night", this is a an album sure to please.

The music is soothing and a bit atmospheric, definitely leaning toward the solemn, fit more for a quiet evening of reflection than for your annual Christmas block party.  The album was in good condition, and the rip sounds pretty decent. 

Twenty-five songs on a vinyl album means a lot of short pieces - many are under two minutes, and King Wenceslas wins the race at a mere 0:57.  The plus side is that there are so many songs to enjoy!

So, enjoy away!

download link

Sons of Old Town Xmas Extravaganza Volume 2

Back in 2015 I featured "Sons of Old Town Collective Xmas Extravaganza Vol. I", a four song EP.  In the post I noted that the "Vol. I" implied that there would be a Vol. II sometime in the future.  Well, friends, the future is here.*   The Sons of Old Town Collective is back, this time with a 15 song collection of new and original holiday-themed music from artists hailing from Nashville, TN, Tupelo, Jackson, and Oxford, MS, and (hey!  my town!) Kansas City, MO.

What these guys do is important stuff.  From their press release:

Sons of Old Town Collective is a group of bands and artists committed to building community through music.  Since 2011 the collective has been promoting shows and releasing music with no genre limitations.  Sons of Old Town Xmas Extravaganza Volume 2 will be released on November 30, 2018 both digitally and in a limited release cassette tape. 

Proceeds from the project will go to benefit notesfornotes.org - Notes for Notes is a non-profit organization that designs, equips, and staffs after-school recording studios inside Boys & Girls Clubs offering youth the opportunity to explore, create, and record music for FREE. notesfornotes.org

So, this is a group of musicians producing great songs and donating the proceeds to create and support musical opportunities for youth.  Beautiful.

"Sons of Old Town Collective Xmas Extravaganza Vol. II" has something for everyone.  The $10 asking price on their Bandcamp site is a bargain, considering you get 15 songs and the good feeling of contributing to a great cause.

I wish that I had posted about this earlier in the season, but I know that for many readers of Merry & Bright! Christmas music season never ends, so there's never really any "too late".  And, friend Stubby excellently plugged Vol. II over at his place a few weeks back.

Check 'em out, support their cause, buy their record, enjoy their music.

Sons of Old Town Collective Facebook page
Album Bandcamp site
"Sons of Old Town Collective Xmas Extravaganza Vol. II" is available on your favorite digital music source.


* Man, I really wanted to add "and we're all eating Dippin' Dots", but I refrained.  Mostly.

Mystery Share!

Mystery share!  This one won't last long!  The link goes away on Christmas Eve - download before midnight tonight :-)

too late!

New Music: Jenna & Martin "Gingerbread"

I like Christmas music.  And I like local musicians.  And there just isn't much better than local musicians releasing Christmas songs, especially when the songs are as good as the three on Jenna & Martin's three-song release "Gingerbread".

Jenna is Jenna Rae, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and Martin is Martin Farrell, Jr, um, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter... you get the picture - they are a talented duo.

"Gingerbread" is a brand new release, and it's terrific.  "All I Want for Christmas (Is to Hold You)" opens the record, and the only way to put it is that it's a damned fine country Christmas song.  I've been finding myself wanting to hear this again and again this past week.  It has a really pure, into-your-soul country music sound, and Jenna's vocals are just fantastic.

"Boot Hockey" follows, an uptempo ditty that you simply must hear to appreciate - ice skating, boot hockey, being stuck in a snowbank, and a napping Santa Claus make this a fine little song - hearkens me back to rural Kansas, where I grew up.

"I Can't Stand Another Christmas" closes the 3-song record, a tale of (perhaps) Christmas overdone just a tad, as with the lyric "Your body don't need eggnog every single day".  It's a masterful country song about Christmas, upbeat music with lyrics that are a bit dark.  It compares well with the great songs on Rodney Crowell's "Christmas Everywhere" album (released in 2018).

From https://jennamartinduo.com/bio/

Dang, I love this record.  Der Bingle is admittedly not the biggest fan of country music in these parts, but when it's done this well with the heart of Jenna & Martin, well I can't help but dig it!

Oh - hey!  Look at this!  It's a film Jenna & Martin made to promote "Gingerbread" - it's great!

Jenna & Martin website
"Gingerbread" Amazon link
"Gingerbread" is also available at all the usual digital platforms

Oh Snap!

This is a classic share here in the Christmas music sharing blogiverse.  Ernie shared it first, way back in 2005.  CaptOT then linked to Ernie in a column about it in 2006.  Well, it's been 13 years, man, and this album deserves another turn in the spotlight.

I speak, of course, of "Carols of Christmas" by the Snap-On Tools Male Chorus. 

Directed by Mrs. Marjorie Morrow, the Snap-On Tools Male Chorus (for this recording) was comprised of employees of the Snap-On Tools Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin.  For a bunch of tool guys, they are quite good!  They sing with energy and spirit, giving us twelve classic Christmas carols, including one medley that is an amazing 10:52 in length. 

So, I'm on the level and wouldn't throw a wrench in the works, it's hammer time!  Please enjoy the Snap-On Male Chorus :-)

download link

<sigh> As I'm writing this and listening to the rip, it has a few of those pervasive audio hiccups that have plagued me this year due to a stylus change.  Well, enjoy it now and look forward to a re-master next season.

What's More Christmassy Than...

Radio City Music Hall at Christmas time?

One of my favorite places on Earth is New York City at Christmas time, especially the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.  Mrs. Bingle and I have been fortunate enough to see the show twice in NYC, and also once here in KC with the touring company.  It's wonderful, beautiful, and amazing.  It's hard to believe that Radio City Music Hall was in a struggle to survive and nearly closed up shop in the late 1970's.  Now, it's a special Christmas treat to see the Rockettes, the live Nativity, and all the rest.

Tonight's share is "Merry Christmas New York from the Radio City Music Hall", a 1972 release featuring highlights from the Christmas program.  The album opens with the Nativity, a medley of spiritual carols.  Segments from "The Nutcracker" and more carol medleys grace the album.  "Jingle Bells/Rhythms of the ROCKETTES" is a side 2 track, featuring the tap dancing feet of the world famous dance troupe.  What a wonderful album full of Christmas nostalgia!

Included in the zip file are the images from the fold-out section of the album cover, with pictures from the program, and liner notes by Jack Mitchell.

One of my favorites this year!

download link