Ashley Slater: Merry Jazzmas!

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I'm breaking the habit of a lifetime and mentioning the 'C' word in November - only because singer, composer and trombonist Ashley Slater is a good friend and he's produced the album that you need for every gathering you're planning over Christmas.



This album has been a closely-guarded secret throughout 2024, with Ashley barely mentioning it more than once a week across social media. Now that's it's finally arrived in your listening ears, you're going to love Merry Jazzmas!

Featuring a bevy of brilliant musicians, every track was crafted by the witty Mr Slater (listen out for "One and one makes true") and the arrangements show them all at their finest. There's Gary Alesbrook (trumpet), Iain Ballamy (sax) Mark Edwards (piano), Mark Fletcher (drummer), Jamie McCredie (guitar) and Mark Preston (guitar).

Ashley has always been a self-deprecating and amusing musician and human being. He's worked with some of the big names including Thomas Dolby, Carla Bley and everyone in Loose Tubes (basically a Who's Who of UK jazz in the 1980s): he's also had significant mainstream musical success with Freak Power (with Norman Cook) and Kitten and the Hip.

Merry Jazzmas is a delightful collection of original tracks, including an international Feliz Navidad and the rather naughty Santa's Snoring. Just occasionally, Ashley gives us all a glimpse of his sensitive side - the gorgeous Every Child and Christmas Hymn in particular (with some gorgeous Iain Ballamy sax). Then there's the country-influenced Home for Christmas which will make the perfect Christmas Eve track on every radio station.

Out now, Merry Jazzmas brings all the jazz kitsch you will ever need. I suspect some of these tracks will become ear-worms, just as Ashley's hit with Freak Power - Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out has.

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