It Must Have Been the Mistletoe

LINER NOTES:

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am obsessed with Christmas. In part, it is because my birthday is two weeks before Christmas, so I celebrate ME during the entire month of December!

After recording my second CD in 2021, Heart Songs: An American Medley, I knew that my next musical project had to be a Christmas album. But I wanted it to be special – something new and unexpected.

And that is when I reached out to Sean Harkness.

I have been in awe of Sean’s talent since I heard him for the first time in 2019 in a cabaret club in New York City. And when we worked together on Heart Songs, I told him that we were going to do a Christmas album together.

(He had no choice in the matter!)

There is a collection of jazz arrangements for piano of Christmas tunes called Santa Ma-Jazz that I pull out every year to play at the holidays. I played some of these arrangements for Sean as “inspiration” of what I wanted the vibe of the album to be. I was delighted when Sean said, “I’m your guy!”

This album is filled with some traditional carols, holiday classics and some lesser-known ditties. There are sacred favorites and jazz standards, a medley of music from children’s classic shows, an homage to my father who often played the horse whinny at the end of “Sleigh Ride” in his orchestra concerts….and more. But the arrangements will surprise and delight and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

(even though that song isn’t on the album)

– Regina

Musicians

Sean Harkness (guitar), Raymond Cetta (bass), Michael O’Brien (bass), Mike Lunoe (drum set/percussion)

Recorded in June 2022 at Oktaven Audio, LLC in Mount Vernon, NY. Engineered, edited, and mixed by Ryan Streber. Mastered by Roger Lian.

Graphic Design by Helane Blumfield Photography.

CD Artwork