Heaven and Nature Swing

Description

Heaven and Nature Swing is Christmas album by the American singer, songwriter, and trumpeter Phil Driscoll, released on Word Records in 1993. The album was produced and arranged by Ralph Carmichael.

If you like big band jazz, you’ll love Phil Driscoll’s ‘Heaven and Nature Swing’. Everything on this release is done in a big way, though on some tunes, Phil continues his smoother vocal style and the musical experimentation that marked his last album, ‘The Picture Changes‘. However, on that album, he sounded like Michael Bolton and here he sounds more like Harry Connick, Jr (who also has a new Christmas album).

Phil’s trumpet, mostly absent from his last album, is back and the mighty horn is blowing triumphantly again. The album starts with a high energy version of «Joy to the World», and then kicks back to explore mellower jazz versions of such classics as «I’ll Be Home for Christmas» and «Silent Night». The energy level shifts back to high gear with a rousing version of «God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen». One of the musical treats of this album, «Gentlemen» starts with excellent vocals by Phil and then allows him to launch into a trumpet solo followed by an exciting counterpoint duel with a hot jazz sax. Another highlight of this album is Phil’s version of «Oh Come All Ye Faithful». This song features a trumpet opening that has the soaring style that Driscoll is known for. Dricsoll also does a dream-like sounding cover of «White Christmas».

The only way this album, produced and arranged by the great Ralph Carmichael, could have been made a more complete treat for jazz fans would be to have added a Driscoll version of «The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)». The last song «Spirit of Christmas» (originally on an earlier Driscoll Christmas album) seems to sum up the message that Phil wants to leave with his listeners – “Seasons come and seasons go/ But let the gift of love carry on.” [Dave Geisler, CCM, November 1993]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/heaven-and-nature-swing/1715392767)

CD tracklist:

01. Joy To The World – 3:34
02. Winter Wonderland – 4:24
03. Over In Bethlehem – 4:57
04. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – 4:07
05. Silent Night – 4:30
06. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – 4:03
07. White Christmas – 4:31
08. Greatest Love Story – 5:08
09. O Come All Ye Faithful – 5:44
10. Spirit Of Christmas – 4:33

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Word Records.