Album by Canadian guitarist gives Christmas music a whole new meaning!

Are you a bit ‘bah humbug’ when it comes to Christmas music? This season, get “IN2 The Spirit” with a CD that takes Christmas music to a whole new level. Canadian composer and guitarist John Findlay has been hard at work finishing up his debut Christmas jazz & blues instrumental CD IN2 The Spirit featuring:

Bill Payne of Little Feat fame, Will Lee of the David Letterman Show (one of the most recorded bassists in pop/jazz history) , Keith Carlock winner of 2009 Modern Drummer award (Sting, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Larry Carlton). Also featured are bassist Ric Fierabracci (Chick Corea) and drummer Joel Rosenblatt (Spyra Gyra), and pianist George Whitty (David Sanborne, Brecker Bros.) and a veritable who’s who from the Canadian jazz & blues scene including: Lou Pomanti, Gord Sheard, Mark Kelso, Phil Dwyer and Robi Botos.

The album features 16 exciting, original jazz, blues and rock instrumental takes on Christmas classics that breathe new life into the Christmas genre. According to Findlay, the idea was to take traditional Christmas music to a whole new level with compelling, creative arrangements and powerful performances while paying tribute to some of his favorite composers & guitarists, such as: Weather Report, Steely Dan, Larry Carlton, B.B. King and Thelonius Monk.

Christmas music is a tough nut to crack and Findlay takes the project on with soul and integrity fueled by his gutsy guitar playing. A labor of love that started 5 years ago when jamming with his then 7 year old son on Little Drummer Boy, "off the cuff" demos began to catch the attention of the jazz guitar community and John was encouraged to make an entire Christmas CD!

The 12 Days of Christmas features a ‘Feats’ inspired arrangement harkening back to the ‘Dixie

Chicken’ days with Will Lee & Keith Carlock laying down a killer groove under Bill Payne’s enormous barrel-house improvisations.

Musical risks are taken, melodies re-worked, themes varied, but at the center of the album, the Christmas ‘vibe’ and beautiful melodies remain preserved

A real gift to jazz & blues lovers everywhere!