Christmas Journey

Wes Burden's 'A Christmas Journey' is a most satisfying trip! This smooth jazz album is not a homogenized set of sound-alike easy-listening tracks; it snaps with refreshing character and an international flavor. Although the CD is largely an instrumental showcase for Burden's superb saxophone, it does have two vocal moments (#3, 10). The ten tracks are all well-known Christmas classics. One feature of Burden's release makes it unlike any other I have ever reviewed. The CD comes in a nifty silver tin with a festive red label, not in a clear plastic jewel case. The down side is that the tin will occupy slightly more room on your shelf and has no side label for easy viewing as it rests in your collection. The intriguing up side, however, is that the unusual packaging makes for a truly excellent gift-giving presentation. The album opens extremely well with a brilliantly energetic, Irish flavored 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,' slides into the sweetest sax on 'Angels We Have Heard on High' (complete with gentle echo), and then takes a distinctly Jamaican turn with 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.' This third piece is one of the two vocals on the album; Chata Addi provides the distinctive and welcoming reggae approach. Other distinctive cuts include the exotic 'We Three Kings' and oh-so-cool 'Little Drummer Boy' with it's didgeridoo accents. The CD closes with 'Silent Night,' which provides solo sax at the start, then adds the somewhat hushed voices of a small chorus, singing the carol in German (later in English), all in unison. The effect makes for a perfect finale. Thank you, Wes Burden, for A Christmas Journey that is most enjoyable! --Carol Swanson, ChristmasReviews.com.