Sleigh Ride: Over The Top

Clarion Brass has just released a new CD just in time for the Holidays! Put a swing in your holiday step this season with SLEIGH RIDE: Over the Top. The CD includes jazzy blends of old classics as well as old traditionals, along with a few twists. Here is what Rolf Olson, director of bands / trumpet at the University of South Dakota had to say:

“The Clarion Brass consists of St. Louis-area musicians Mary Weber and Jason Harris on trumpet; Steve Hanrahan on horn; George Manning on trombone; Wayne Coniglio on bass trombone, string bass, and tuba; and Alan Schilling on drum set and percussion. This is the first CD release for the Clarion Brass and is, simply put, a “fun” CD. It contains a wide variety of Christmas songs, from ethnic carols to more commercial / popular tunes arranged in a jazz style. The arrangements include the superb writing of Niehaus, Frackenpohl, Gale, and Holcombe, along with some from group members Weber and Coniglio. There are several refreshing and delightful interpretations of standards such as Sleigh Ride, The Holly and the Ivy, and You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. The ensemble has a wonderful blend, and each player moves adeptly between widely varying styles, especially jazz. Brief descriptions of each song are entertaining, and their listing of publishers is useful. This album will definitely put any listener in the holiday spirit!”

The CD includes these fantastic tunes: