Big Harp George

Big Harp George Does Christmas

Blues Mountain Records

Big Harp George doesn’t know if you’ve been naughty or nice, but he’s got a special Christmas gift ready for you. It’s an album of unconventional Christmas music, lyrically sharp, the clever album is full of hooks and surprises that run throughout the recording. Big Harp George (George Bisharat) is a San Francisco Bay area blues singer, songwriter and chromatic harmonica wizard. His jazzy sophisticated harp playing and smart songwriting make for a distinctive musical package. George is an ex-criminal defense lawyer, and an award-winning Professor of Law at UC Hastings College, where he was an expert commentator on law and politics in the Middle East. George recorded his first album “Chromaticism” in 2014 and it earned him “Best New Artist” award nominations from the Blues Foundation and Blues Blast Magazine. Four more successful albums followed, the last being “Cut My Spirit Loose”. All of the songs are new originals written by George and recorded at Greaseland Studios in San Jose, California. The album is engineered by Christoffer “Kid” Andersen, and mastered by Joe Tarantino. The graphic design is by Anthony Paule, while the photography is from Emilia Rosales.

The album opens with George singing “Bad Santa”, as naughty triumphs over nice, “you ain’t welcome in my home…bad Santa now you leave my wife alone”, with Derrick “D’Mar” Martin on drums, and “Kid” Andersen on guitar. “Carioca Christmas” features a Latin vibe with a “Call and response”, fabulous harmonica from George, Chris Burns on keys and Ben Torres on flute. “Reindeer on Strike” includes bassist Joe Kyle Jr.; the baritone saxophone of Doug Rowan, and the tenor sax of Michael Peloguin, as George croons “this reindeer standing up for what’s right” as the reindeer speak impishly of their grievances.

“War on Christmas” includes the lyric “don’t bat an eye…calling on Red to start a fight…there’s a War on Christmas”, featured are background vocalists the Sons of The Soul Revivers with James, Dwayne, and Walter Morgan. “Snow Shuffle” is a terrific instrumental with the great rhythm section and a horn arrangement from trombonist Mike Rinta; Aaron Lington is on baritone sax. “Coquito Girl” is another song with a Latin beat as “D’Mar” plays drums and percussion, “Coguito Girl is just out of this world”.

“Where’ll I Be for Christmas?” features the late Charlie Baty on guitar, and a horn arrangement from tenor saxophonist Micael Peloquin, “where’ll I be for Christmas, I really don’t know, my mom and dad are gone, I don’t have no place to go”. “Fireside Waltz” is a second instrumental with the horns of baritone saxophonist Rowan, Peloquin on tenor, Burns on piano, and great guitar from Andersen.

“Thee Three Kings” includes more great guitar playing from Andersen as George sings about Freddie, Albert, and B.B. King “each with his own way of bending those strings”. On “That Grinch Is Me” George sings “I got a secret for you honey, that Grinch is me”, with Burns on piano and Peloguin on tenor sax. The closer “It’s New Year’s Eve” is another great original with a lead vocal sung by Tia Carroll and the lyric “its New Year’s Eve and I’m gonna have myself a ball”.

George states that he wanted to make an album that could be listened to all year round. He succeeded with his goal to make every day Christmas.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

Buy Us a Cup of Coffee!

Join the movement in supporting Making a Scene, the premier independent resource for both emerging musicians and the dedicated fans who champion them.

We showcase this vibrant community that celebrates the raw talent and creative spirit driving the music industry forward. From insightful articles and in-depth interviews to exclusive content and insider tips, Making a Scene empowers artists to thrive and fans to discover their next favorite sound.

Together, let’s amplify the voices of independent musicians and forge unforgettable connections through the power of music

You can donate directly through Paypal!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter