Review: Alexis Cole – The Greatest Gift

An article by Frank    No Comments

Yesterday in our home, we indulged in one of our Christmas traditions – we put up the Christmas tree. For me this has never been a big deal, but throw in my 3 year old daughter whose love language seems to be gifts and the whole game has changed. Putting up the Christmas tree is now a festive occasion of sites, giggles, smiles, excitement, play, learning and an amazing amount of joy just at the mention of putting the tree up.

It’s an understatement to say that she loves it. She took great delight in the decorations, giving special attention to the angel that would adorn the top of the tree and since we’ve introduced the tradition of using cards that we’ve received through purchases from TEAR Fund’s Gift For Life catalogue as decorations, it’s also an opportunity to teach her a little about meaningful giving and assisting those who do not have the options that we do.

Now any good tree raising must have appropriate music to accompany it and this year we had a treat. I had been sent a copy of Alexis Cole’s Christmas release, The Greatest Gift, to review so I took the opportunity to see how it gelled with a Christmas experience such as ours. It worked well on a number of levels.

This was my first experience of any music by jazz vocalist, Alexis Cole and not being a jazz aficionado, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I read the info that came with the album and was very happy to see those who had written the introductions to the album placing the emphasis squarely where I think it should be at Christmas, on the birth of Jesus, helping those less fortunate than ourselves and sharing moments with loved ones. Based on the introductions, I was looking forward to a musical experience that would express those central elements as it’s easy to reference Jesus and pay lip service to the heart of Christmas, but not quite so easy to really give that honour through music… but I wasn’t let down.

The title of the album is a reference to a recital that Alexis’ father was involved in. It was around the time that she rededicated herself to the Church and also music, so the album clearly holds some very real significance for Alexis rather than simply being a product to jump on the Christmas album band-wagon.

The album includes 14 tracks that includes some originals, but also some well known Christmas favourites that Alexis has reworked in her own jazz/blues/classical style to truly make them her own on this recording. There is a good mix of sound from the joyous upbeat opening of “Joy to the World”, down into the bluesy rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry” Gentlemen.

The standout track for me is “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow”. Having just got back from two weeks looking at work being done in the slums of Delhi and Mumbai, the Indian vibe present in this track really caught my attention and to hear that it is a reworking of a well known African-American hymn just adds even more depth to it. It’s the track that turned my head and really made me stop and listen.

I wouldn’t be doing this album justice if I didn’t also mention the part that demonstrates that Alexis is putting her money where her mouth is and really brings the whole package together for me. As a way of working out her understanding of faith and Christmas, Alexis has devoted some of the proceeds from the sale of the album to Bicycle Relief, an organisations that provides needed bicycles in the developing world. There are videos on the enhanced CD to explain and demonstrate the difference this can make.

I am an unashamed commuter cyclist who thinks that the world could solve many of its ills by getting more people on bicycles, so that part of the album is a winner for me.

The positive impression of this album was sealed for me as I watched my little 3 year old girl shaking her bottom to the rhythm of the music with nothing but joy on her face as she experienced some of Christmas through the tree, the Gift for Life cards that we use for decorations, the learning associated with that, talk of Jesus and giving… and surrounding it all, a safe, loving family environment.

Alexis Cole’s album, The Greatest Gift and everyone who was a part of making that album happen, provided the soundtrack for that family event. Alexis, thank you.

Note: The image of the child decorating the tree was shot by me. It is my little girl decorating the tree. Thus for all you legal eagles, copyright for that image is held by me.