As you might imagine I get quite a pile of music to review and sometimes timeliness isn't on my side but I did receive a CD from Rev. Jimmie Bratcher that not only gives you something more interesting to listen to during the season, but is also a super release, so here's the review. Opening with the title track, Man! It's Christmas, Bratcher drops the bomb and a cool jazzy track. Featuring Bratcher on vocal and hot licks, Paul Draper on B3, Rick Yord on bass, and Brandon Draper on drums, this is a solid opener. traditional Hymn, Go Tell It On The Mountain is now a shuffle with country blues style singing and great acoustic guitar and slide with Tulsa Reed on harp. Very cool. Bell Carol Blue is another tune that will be very recognizable as a Christmas song but with such a tasteful blue jazz arrangement, you'll be grooving with nice flugelhorn and piano soloing by Eric Stark and excellent vocals and guitar work by Bratcher. Instrumental track, Going To Grammy's House has an acoustic country blues feel with slide and brushes on snare. Silent Night with bent string electric blues riffs? You bet. With a solid shuffle beat and critical B3 tones, this track takes on an almost gospel blues feel with soulful vocal lines. Bratcher isn't bashful about pulling out the (double) stops and pouring on the heat. Very cool. Wrapping the release is instrumental To The 4 For Christmas with a funky jazz bass line and a great drum/percussion bottom. Bratcher rides high on electric guitar forming the melody over a B3 rhythm. Super closer for an exceptional seasonal release. Sorry I'm late.
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