THE DAVID IAN VINTAGE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
at THE FRANKLIN THEATRE
DECEMBER 11TH AT 7PM
Music Featured In
THE DAVID IAN VINTAGE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
THE DAVID IAN VINTAGE CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
“..a postmodern Vince Guaraldi”— The Wall Street Journal
Sweetly playful while remaining sophisticated, this choice of tunes is carefully thought out with themes all pointing to the historic Christmas narrative.
David Ian is a Jazz pianist born in Toronto, Canada, critically known for his classic Christmas trio recordings of remarkably authentic vintage feel.
Experience what has turned the heads of critics from The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Associated Press, and many others and make this event a new addition to of your Christmas traditions!
Let David lan and his ensemble present a classy night of authentic jazz, integrating Scripture to tell the story of the season like you've never experienced before!
REVIEWS
“You’ll start tapping your toe and smiling”
If you are looking for a more old-school musical celebration of the holiday season, pianist David Ian has chosen a number of lovely vintage Christmas songs to play for you. Here is a double-fisted handful of wonderful and familiar songs including the beautiful Christian hymns, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” “Away in a Manger” and “We Three Kings.”
David Ian and his trio offer us familiar melodies, but they infuse these songs with their own unique jazz cadences, swings, shuffles, and improvisations. Every song is flavored with jazz beauty, in a very easy listening way. Pop this into your CD player while curled on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace or enjoying a family dinner. David Ian’s sophisticated take on tunes like “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem” or “Silent Night” are pleasing to the ear and soothing to the spirit. When his trio goes from a sweet arrangement of “The First Noel” into a slow swing with Jon Estes walking his double bass with gusto and Josh Hunt driving them ahead with percussive confidence, you will start tapping your toe and smiling.
This is peaceful music from three talented musicians to remind us musically of the meaning of Christmas: peace, joy and love.
LA JAZZ SCENE
“Jazzy downtown sophistication”
…MR. IAN, TORONTO BORN PIANIST, SEASONS FIVE FAMILIAR SONGS WITH JAZZY DOWNTOWN SOPHISTICATION…FIREPLACE SNAP FROM A POSTMODERN VINCE GUARALDI.
MARC MYERS, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
“Plays with gorgeous chord voicings.”
DAVID IS A TERRIFIC JAZZ PIANIST FROM TORONTO WHO PLAYS WITH GORGEOUS CHORD VOICINGS. IT’S A VERY HIP ALBUM WITH A DOWNTOWN FEEL."
MARC MYERS, JAZZWAX
“A Charlie Brown Christmas meets Brubeck’s Take Five.”
This is one of those Christmas discs that honor the traditional songs of the season while giving them a slightly hip little tune-up. Ian is a jazz pianist in the vein of the greats like Dave Brubeck, Vince Guaraldi and Thelonius Monk. Bassist John Estes and drummer Josh Hunt bring that sophisticated mid-century vibe to classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World.” Ian is a great leader and interpreter of these holiday delights in his tasteful use of block chords, elegant solos and inventive key modulations and arrangements. Think “A Charlie Brown Christmas” meets Brubeck’s “Take Five” for inspiration.
ERIC HARABADIAN, MUSIC CONNECTION
“Seamlessly melding some traditional compositions with the perfect hint of lounge-meets-jazz phrasing.”
Jazz pianist David Ian treats the classics with a deft hand on "Vintage Christmas," seamlessly melding some traditional compositions with the perfect hint of lounge-meets-jazz phrasing.
There is a way to botch this approach, to make it too kitschy. Ian knows better and meanders from the traditional approach just enough to keep it interesting, but without too many extra instruments mucking up the arrangement. His minimalist piano work delivers a clean approach here.
Ian's best work is evident on his vocal-free rendition of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," with just some soft bass notes and drum work to back him up. His explorations with the melody are mild and it's nice that he doesn't meander off into a jazz jungle of unrelated riffs.
RON HARRIS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
“Ian has an intelligent playing style
Pianist David Ian, gives us Vintage Christmas Trio, his third and best holiday release.
Supported by the fine acoustic bassist Jon Estes and the agile drummer Josh Hunt, Ian explores the strengths of “Silver Bells,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “Up On Te Housetop” and seven more tunes. Ian has an intelligent playing style, always avoiding the weak emotion that plagues less thoughtful musicians.
FRANK-JOHN HADLEY, DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE
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ABOUT DAVID IAN
ABOUT DAVID IAN
How does an ear-splitting, note-shredding rock guitarist who leaps off amps in concert end up releasing an album of mellow, jazz-oriented Christams songs?
While most people would think such a scenario improbable, to say the least, David Ian views it as a natural progression in a multifaceted music career.
Born in Toronto, Canada to Armenian immigrant parents, Ian came early to music, beginning classical piano study at age five. A few years later, he experienced a moment of epiphany: “After seeing Back to the Future, I realized that playing guitar was my destiny. It really wasn’t even a choice.” Ian performed in a number of garage bands throughout junior high and high school, and after graduating from college became lead guitarist in the acclaimed band Church of Rhythm. That group eventually morphed into the even more successful rock group Superchick, which earned a Grammy nomination award in 2009 for best Rock/Rap Gospel Album.
But Ian was no one-trick pony, having begun a lifelong love of jazz in his early teens. He studied jazz piano with noted teacher Pat Pace, and joined with fellow students to help initiate the jazz lab curriculum at his high school in Akron, Ohio. When he conceived the idea of recording this Christmas record, he drew inspiration from two legendary jazz pianists. “I tried to capture some of the essence of the gorgeous voicing and phrasing of Bill Evans in his interpretations of ballads, as well as the festive approach of Vince Guaraldi, particularly his injection of the blues.”