Deanne Matley - Get in the Mood (2013)

What better way to get in the mood for Christmas than Christmas music. It sets a tone and a mood for the upcoming holiday season. The special thing about Christmas music is that Christmas comes but once a year, it’s unlikely you’ve heard Christmas songs playing year-round.

Christmas music creates a clear distinct feeling. For me, personally, it brings out feelings of excitement, joy, relaxation and gratitude. The fun part is that you get a whole year to build up excitement and when it comes time to pull out the Christmas tunes, you fall in love with it all over again. It is timeless.

That is one of the main reasons I recorded my Christmas album, “Get in the Mood” – it will never go out of style. You could say it is somewhat of a legacy.
“Get in the Mood” is destined to create new holiday favourites for its audience. The CD is a rich mix of R&B and soul tunes, jazz standards, romantic ballads and traditional carols that convey the excitement and anticipation of the season. Deanne Matley’s delivery is impeccable. Her warm, elegant, rich and deep vocal style and authentically engages the listener, emotionally connecting with their hearts and minds.

With original arrangements, the song selections are wide in emotional range, from the jubilant “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to the beautifully pensive jazz standard “A Child is Born.” Some of the tunes are full-on fun: “I’d Like You for Christmas” includes a ‘50s-style call and response sung by Calgary a cappella group The Heebee-jeebees.

With a Christmas album that was to include strings and horns, Deanne invited some of Calgary’s most talented musicians for the recording, many of whom are personal friends. These musicians play in her own groups, in the Prime Time Big Band, of which Deanne is also a member, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Appearing with her on the the CD are: Bruce Petherick (Piano), Stefano Valdo (Bass), John de Waal (Drums), Ralf Buschmeyer (Guitar), Jim Murray (Trumpet, Flügelhorn), Dave Reid (Trombone), Pat Belliveau (Tenor Saxophone), Shane Statz (Alto Saxophone), Allegra String Quartet (Violins, Viola, ‘Cello) and the aforementioned Heebee-jeebees.

The album is dedicated to the special memory of Woodwind performer Ian Clayton, who in his lifetime contributed so much to the vitality of Alberta’s music community.