Soule Monde has released their new album, “Christmas.”
Soule Monde, a Vermont based instrumental duo featuring keyboardist Ray Paczkowski and drummer Russ Lawton of the Trey Anastasio Band, has released their new album, “Christmas.”
Available now on digital streaming services as well as limited edition vinyl – pressed right in town with our friends at Burlington Record Plant – direct from the band’s website
The 10-song set was initially inspired by Soule Monde’s 2017 release of “Funky Little Drummer Boy,” its pretty interpretation of Christmas staple “The Little Drummer Boy.”
“The delight we took in reinventing this simple melody made it clear we needed to record more,” says Paczkowski in the “Christmas” liner notes. “Christmas songs … hold a unique place in our hearts,” he adds. “They’re songs we’ve grown up on, freighted with an innocent sentimentality and spirit I find irresistible.” Soule Monde went on to release a brilliant take on Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” in 2018, followed by an improv-driven version of “Carol of the Bells.” All three songs are included on “Christmas,” which includes six other covers and one original tune. It’s an impressive collection of Christmas songs, all of which are stamped with Soule Monde’s singular touch, making it one of the more compelling holiday albums in recent memory. The duo also invited some friends and family to the holiday fun, including their own daughters, Hattie Lindert and Patience Hurlburt Lawton adding vocals to “2000 Miles.” And the TAB horns – Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman and James Casey – provide some rollicking ska horn lines to “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Soule Monde celebrates the release of the record, with its second annual Christmas party and toy drive tonight at the Double E Performance Center in Essex Junction.
In addition to celebrating the new album and vinyl records, the band will be collecting (new and unopened) Toys + Gifts.
They will compile Toys from NYC, Fairfield, and Essex Junction and deliver them to a “Toys for Kids Vermont” collection center in the Burlington area.
This org is 100% volunteer and led by the Vermont Marine Corps League.
“Christmas” was recorded and mixed by Roger Stauss at Sugarhouse Soundworks in Watisfield, VT
Mastered by Ben Collette at Tank Recording Studio, Burlington, VT
