(MPS/Edel)

Hammond B3 organist Barbara Dennerlein gives the Christmas songbook a true makeover.  Christmas Soul, produced by Nicola Conte, finds Dennerlein transforming the Yuletide standards into soulful and funky new works. Each track is a performance that stands on its own with very inventive improvisational grooves that turns these classics into real toe-tappers. Joining Dennerlein on the production are Magnus Lindgren on saxophone, flutes and clarinet, Luca Alemanno on basses, Abdissa Assefa on percussion, Conte on guitar and Robert Ikitz on drums. Zara McFarlane provides vocals on three tunes on the project. Your holiday party will get a whole lot cooler with this one.