First to clarify the title: As the liner notes explain, Threadhead Records is a volunteer-run record company with its projects funded by fans who are paid back by the musicians with a percentage of the profits going to the Threadhead Foundation, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic or similar Louisiana music oriented charities.

Two songs immediately jump off the disc that represents a mix bag of local artists, musical styles and hits and misses.  It’s not at all surprising that the outstanding cuts are performed by two hugely talented and creative musicians with deep roots in the city’s music.

Glen David Andrews’ irreverent, yet brilliant funny “Santa Got High for Christmas,” opens with a James Brown-evoking scream that’s enough to get any sleepyhead out of bed on the holiday morning. Alex Mc­Murray backs up the the vocalist in attitude offering some solid, often searing, electric guitar. “Santa was high for Christ­mas and drunk for New Year’s Eve,” Andrews wails and growls while channeling Little Richard’s signature, “Ooo, Ooo.” Too much fun.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the quietly beautiful duet with vocalist John Boutte and his longtime musical partner, guitarist Todd Duke on “Holding You this Christmas.” The intimacy of the setting mimics that of the lyrics that speak of the tranquility of the holiday beyond the bustling crowds. This tune written by Boutte and Paul Sanchez, who produced the CD and penned other works here, is timeless in its warm message. It harkens to classics like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

Straight up New Orleans R&B with vocals by Craig Klein and filled with Fats Domino styled piano triplets provided by Jason Butler kicks off the disc with a good time spirit. The horn arrangements by sousaphonist Matt Perrine and Klein’s trombone solo make for a pleasant ride. Perrine also excels by layering sousaphone parts on an uplifting “Carol of Bells.”

A second line rhythm prevails on the lively “Santa Passed My House Up” sung by trumpeter – well here also trombonist, drummer and bassist – Shamarr Allen, who composed the tune. His son, Jamel Allen, sweetly steps in on vocals that reflect youthful holiday cheer.

Christmas in New Orleans
Charlie Miller

Trumpeter Charlie Miller is a wonderfully unusual man and musician and those qualities are again heard on his latest release, Christmas in New Orleans. Scan­ning the play list that includes holiday classics like “The Christmas Song,” “Silent Night” and “The First Noel” doesn’t truly reveal the nature of the  music nor seem to speak especially of New Orleans.

It’s Miller who, after years spent roaming from Mississippi to France following Katrina, is again celebrating Christmas back home. Perhaps best known as a longtime member of Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack’s band,  the trumpeter is renowned for bringing a singular spirituality to his work as heard on 1997’s entrancing “Peace Horn.” As he did on that  release, Miller stands alone with his trumpet, reaching down to the depths of each song and of his soul.

While the melodies and rhythms of these yuletide favorites remain, for the most part, intact, they take on new tonal personalities. Soaring high notes and unexpected slurs and accents change the nature of the songs. Sometimes they uplift them while at other times they make them hauntingly mournful. Certainly these classics are realized here as never before.

Jazz improvisation is definitely involved and while comparisons are usually not a good idea, the late, great trumpeter Lester Bowie’s cover of the Platters’ hit, “The Great Pretender,” inevitably comes to mind.

The loneliness of a single horn beckoning perhaps to a star on a cold, dark night offers images and a wealth of emotions that, along with goodwill and cheer, are, for many the essence of Christmas and holiday memories.

Celebrations in the French Quarter

This week, the free nightly concerts continue at St. Louis Ca­thedral that offer a diverse selection of some of New Orleans finest performers. An evening of jazz will be provided by the brilliant piano of Ellis Marsalis, who brings great dignity and his vast wealth of knowledge to the keyboards on Sunday (Dec. 13). He promises to perform several original spirituals that are in the Christmas idiom. The St. Louis Cathedral Boys Choir takes over on Monday (Dec.14) followed by the might Franklin Ave­nue Baptist Church Min­is­try Choir Tuesday. John Bout­te, one of the most passionate and soulful vocalists in the city, is sure to impress — or for those who know him, again impress — at his show Wednesday. The exhilarating Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir, another one of this city’s real jewels, performs Thursday led by Jermaine Landrum, the grandson of gospel and community mover and shaker, Lois Dejean. Dejean leads her own group, Lois Dejean & Company the following Monday, December 21.

The shows start at 6 p.m. – the perfect time of day to bring the children and enjoy the spark­ling lights in the French Quarter and New Orleans’ gift to the world — music.

Preservation Hall presents its 4th annual “A Creole Christmas” show featuring the Preservation Hall All-Stars led by Lars Edegran on piano and featuring vocalist Big Al Carson. The group lives up to its “All-Stars” moniker boasting trumpeter Leroy Jones, clarinetist Evan Chris­topher, trombonist Fred­die Lonzo, drummer Shannon Pow­ell and bassist Kerry Lewis.   The matinee performance on Sunday, December 20, at 4:30 p.m., is conveniently scheduled to end just in time to head to the Caroling in Jackson Square that begins at 7 p.m. There are also two shows on Thursday, Dec­ember 24, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Call 522-2841 for ticket information. Edegran also assembles most of the same guys including Carson for a show at the New Orleans Jazz National Park, 916 N. Peters, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 19.

This article was originally published in the December 14, 2009 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper