Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Maryland-based gospel jazzman Vernon Hill gathers around him a bunch of musical friends and proceeds to put together a Christmas set. After a jazz-piano instrumental version of "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", one Tim Andrulonis blows some tasty tenor sax on "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Silent Night", Taylor Simon-Butts purrs out a classy version of "Noel" and an original song "Glory To God". Occasionally the tweaking of chords on some of the carols to make them more appropriate to a jazz fusion treatment sounds a little forced but there's no doubting that Vernon is a talented pianist and arranger and though a tad short 'Great Joy' shows what gifted musicians can do even with over familiar yuletide material.

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