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Music review: Leslie Odom Jr. ëƵ ëƵSimply ChristmasëƵ

By Clint Rhodes for The 2 min read
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With another Thanksgiving Day celebrated and blessings counted, itëƵs now time to absorb the magic of Christmas. The first place I start to help me get in the true spirit of the season is with some new holiday music to set the proper tone for those marathon decorating, shopping, baking and visiting sessions that fill this joyous time of the year. 

Those close to me know that I am a Christmas music junkie with well over 200 Christmas albums accumulated over the last 25 years. The first weekend after Thanksgiving the Christmas decorations go up and the festive music marathon begins and doesnëƵt come to a close until the arrival of New YearëƵs Day. Despite my extensive musical collection, I still get excited when the new holiday releases come out each year.

This yearëƵs new Christmas album that has me feeling warm and reflective is ëƵSimply ChristmasëƵ from Leslie Odom Jr.

The Tony winner follows up his self-titled debut from 2014 with a new record of reinterpreted holiday standards featuring soulful jazz versions of favorites like ëƵHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,ëƵ ëƵIëƵll Be Home for Christmas,ëƵ ëƵThe Christmas SongëƵ and ëƵThe First Noel.ëƵ

Perhaps best known for his role as Aaron Burr in Lin-Manuel MirandaëƵs smash hit ëƵHamilton,ëƵ the actor and musician delivers a pristine performance with a voice that is silky smooth and comforting. A calming sophistication embraces the 35-year-oldëƵs cover of ëƵMy Favorite Things,ëƵ while he turns the CarpentersëƵ ëƵMerry Christmas DarlingëƵ into a tender and dreamy Christmas wish.

ëƵAve MariaëƵ elegantly closes the set in a surreal manner with soothing piano and OdomëƵs engaging voice seamlessly blending to relay the beautiful prayer set to music and remind us all the true reason for the season.

If you are struggling to find the spirit of Christmas this year, pick up a copy of ëƵSimply ChristmasëƵ and let it brighten your mood and warm the heart. It is charming. It is nostalgic. It is simply wonderful.

Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

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