# CD review: Lisa Biales – At Christmas – 2023: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/11/26/cd-review-lisa-biales-at-christmas-2023-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2023-11-26T00:04:33+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Although there are a few great Christmas records in the blues (BB King and Roomful
Of Blues are two favorites in our house!) it is always good to find a new addition
to the selection, particularly when most of the material is original. **

Ohio’s Lisa Biales worked with producer Tony Braunagel in Los Angeles where they
recorded at Johnny Lee Schell’s Ultratone Studio. Jeff Paris adds keys (plus harmonica
and glockenspiel on one track) and either Chuck Berghofer or David J Carpenter are
on bass to form the core band with Braunagel’s drums and Schell’s guitar.

Richie ‘La Bamba’ Rosenberg scored the horn charts which are superbly delivered 
on three tracks by Mark Pender on trumpet, Jerry Vivino on sax and clarinet and 
Garrett Smith on trombone; sax is added to two further tracks by Vivino and Joe 
Sublett and strings appear on one cut courtesy of Doug Hamilton (violin) and Michael
G Ronstadt (cello). The writing credits are three written just by Lisa, three written
by Lisa and Tony Braunagel and two by Lisa, Tony and Jeff Paris; Johnny Lee Schell
offers one song and there is one cover.

The title track opens with Braunagel’s marching drums and adds a New Orleans feel
as Lisa sings warmly and seductively about the delights of the season and there 
are solo opportunities for sax, trombone and guitar. The sole cover is a Louis Prima
song, “Shake Hands With Santa Claus” which swings like crazy in La Bamba’s brilliant
horn arrangement, as does Schell’s “That’s What I Like About Christmas” with some
fine guitar and Sublett’s sax solo topping off the tune. The pace drops for “When
The Snowflakes Fall”, beautifully sung with poignant lyrics: “one snowy evening 
in the late December a bill collector hummed his haughty tune. Too bad she had to
leave this place so soon”. The jaunty “The Boy I Met For Christmas” has an old fashioned
feel with Jeff Paris’ chromatic harp sounding particularly Christmassy while Lisa
celebrates a favorite pet in “Lulu Magoo”, reassuring Santa that she won’t bite;
the clarinet and trumpet add a jazzy, retro feel to this one.

The lyrics of “Mary’s Little Baby Boy” contain many of the traditional Christmas
elements but the music rocks out with Schell’s huge chords and slide, making it 
the heaviest track on the album. Back to a more traditional style musically, Lisa
confesses that “I Like You Mister Claus”, though she is not entirely the innocent
that she pretends: “Hey Santa, you’re getting kinda frisky, if we carry on things
could get risky. Don’t you have more presents to deliver? Come back any time, I’ll
make you shiver”. Lisa appears to have been worried about making this “Christmas
Record”, asking “How do I get in the mood to sing a holiday song in September?”,
the strings and piano accompaniment making this one of the traditional-sounding 
tracks. The band sets a Southern groove with Schell’s greasy slide as Lisa details
what she defines as “Christmas Cheer”, including references to many traditional 
Christmas images, closing the album in festive mood.

If you are looking for an addition to your Christmas music collection this might
just be what you are seeking.

I love how fun it is, and I love how it all came together. The writing process can
be arduous however, this project was so easy because I had writing partners in Tony
Braunagel, Jeff Paris and Johnny Lee Schell. When I got stuck, I’d send my song 
ideas to Tony and he would help me with more ideas. I love writing this way. My 
favorite was when Tony sent me a singing voice message; “Oh the boy, I met, the 
boy I met, the boy I met for Christmas.” I loved it!! And had so much fun with this
song. I am currently working on promoting “At Christmas,” with music videos, interviews
and shows. Having a producer like Tony Braunagel, who everyone loves working with,
is a real treat and a fantastic experience. This is my second album with Tony, I
knew I wanted Johnny Lee Schell on guitar, Tony on drums, Jeff Paris on piano and
Hammond organ and Chuck Berghofer on bass, after that, Tony selected the various
musicians who appear on the album. Tony lives in LA, so when fabulous players are
available, he gets the best! – an interview with me said** Lisa Biales.**

Of course, it’s a wonderful way to enjoy Christmas, which is coming soon, we guarantee.

[**Buy from here – New CD 2023**](https://lisabiales.com/merch)

![](https://i0.wp.com/d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/428645/0004c2a4341fdb986723e010da50292a07841d22/
original/at-christmas-cover-photo.jpeg/!!/b%3AW1sicmVzaXplIixbNjAwLG51bGwseyJ3aXRob3V0RW5sYXJnZW1lbnQiOnRydWUsImZpdCI6Im91dHNpZGUifV1dXQ%
3D%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg?resize=640%2C640&ssl=1)

### _Related_