Christmas Is… by Bria Skonberg
The holidays mean a little bit of everything to me - joy and chaos, solitude and silliness, family, friendship, and gratitude. The greatest gift is togetherness. I hope this music provides a soundtrack for you and yours to be together. May your hearts be light
These brand new arrangements are a journey through my favorite parts of the holidays.
“Carol of The Bells” is a charged call-to-action melody with a pulsing drum beat that kicks off the season and gets us sing-sing-singing.
“Santa’s Coming for Us” is a frothy craft cocktail to start celebrating with friends.
“Christmas Island” is an escape from the daily grind and bitter cold to a much needed tropical vacation.
“Sugar Rum Cherry” is a seductive dance in a dark corner of the company holiday party.
“Christmas Is” the bubbling excitement of kids and families basking in the joy, wonder and anticipation of Christmas.
“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” is the first snowball fight and sledding adventure on a sunny winter day.
“What Child is This” takes a moment to reflect on the years passed, meditate on the melancholy, and build hope for the year ahead.
Lyrics:
SANTA'S COMING FOR US
Nights are getting shorter now
Hot chocolate fills the air and Christmas cheer does too
Picking out your Christmas tree, so lovely
The joy this time it brings to you
Oh ah ah ah, oh ah ah ah
Oh ah ah ah, oh ah ah ah
Oh ah ah ah, Santa's coming to town
Oh ah ah ah, oh ah ah ah
Oh ah ah ah, oh ah ah ah
Oh ah ah ah, Santa's coming to town
Sing it to the deer in the sky
Sing it as they jingle, jingle, jingle tonight
Sing it to the moon, set it free
You're the angel on the top of my tree
Sing it to the spirit above
Sing your heart out with all of your love
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Send your letters off to Santa, baby
Tell him all your secret wishes too
Send your letters off to Santa, baby
Hoping all your wildest dreams come true4
Sing it to the deer in the sky
Sing it as they jingle, jingle, jingle tonight
Sing it to the moon, set it free
You're the angel on the top of my tree
Sing it to the spirit above
Sing your heart out with all of your love
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Santa's coming for us
Oh oh, Santa's coming for us
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Let's get away from sleigh bells
Let's get away from snow
Let's make a break some Christmas, Dear
I know the place to go
How'd ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'd ya like to spend the holiday way across the sea?
How'd ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?
How'd ya like to hang a stocking on a great big coconut tree?
How'd ya like to stay up late, like the islanders do?
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island
You will never stray for everyday
Your Christmas dreams come true
You will never stray for everyday
Your Christmas dreams come true
How'd ya like to stay up late like the islanders do?
Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe
If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island
You will never stray, for everyday
Your Christmas dreams come true
You will never stray, for everyday
Your Christmas dreams come true
CHRISTMAS IS
Christmas is children who just can't go to sleep
Christmas is memories, the kind you always keep
Deck the halls and give a cheer
For all the things that Christmas is each year
Christmas is carols to warm you in the snow
Christmas is bedtime when no one wants to go
All the world is tinsel white
So glad to know that Christmas is tonight
(SOLOS)
Christmas is children who just can't go to sleep
Christmas is memories, the kind you always keep
Deck the halls and give a cheer
For all the things that Christmas is each year
Christmas is carols to warm you in the snow
Christmas is bedtime when no one wants to go
All the world is tinsel white
So glad to know that Christmas is tonight
This Christmas, Merry Christmas
When all your wishes come true
Oh yeah Christmas, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you
Tracklist
| 1. | Carol of the Bells | |
| 2. | Santa's Coming for Us | 4:23 |
| 3. | Christmas Island | |
| 4. | Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy) | |
| 5. | Christmas Is | |
| 6. | Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow | |
| 7. | Greensleeves (What Child Is This) | |
Credits
Bria Skonberg: trumpet & vocal
Jerry Weldon: tenor & soprano saxophones
Chris Pattishall: piano, organ
Barry Stephenson: acoustic bass
Darrien Douglas: drums, percussion
Except on Track 7:
Bria Skonberg: trumpet
Aurora Nealand: soprano saxophone
Ethan Santos: trombone
Chris Pattishall: piano
Grayson Brockamp: acoustic bass
Herlin Riley: drums
Executive Producer: Cory Weeds
Produced by Matt Pierson & Bria Skonberg
Recorded at Samurai Hotel Studio, Astoria, NY on December 10-11, 2024
Engineered by Christopher Allen
Mixed and Mastered by Christopher Allen
Production Manager: Dominic Duchamp
Photography by Bill Westmorelan
Design and layout by Tilda Hedwig
License
All rights reserved.
New York based Canadian Bria Skonberg is a Juno award winning triple threat trumpeter, singer and songwriter. Called the “shining hope of hot jazz” by the NY Times, Bria has performed hundreds of festivals and stages the world over including the New Orleans, Monterey, Newport and Montreal Jazz Festivals. Described as “one of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her generation” (WSJ)