JOY LAPPS & LARNELL LEWIS

THE CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS MIXTAPE VOL. 1

Independent label

Joy Lapps, tenor steelpan/vocals/arranger; Larnell Lewis, drums/percussion/Aux keyboards/synthesizer lead solo/organ/bass/keyboards/programming/arranger; Courtenay Frazer, organ/aux keyboard/Fender Rhodes/piano/pads; Jeremy Ledbetter, piano; Sam Williams, organ; Elmer Ferrer, guitar; Rich Brown, bass guitar; Roshane Wright & Rosendo Chendy Léon, congas/percussion; Rob Christian, flue/saxophone; Andrew Stewart, bass guitar; Subria Lapps & Justin Bacchus, vocals; Michael ‘Skel’ Redhead, tenor Saxophone; Jan Morgan, trumpet; Terry Woode, trombone.

Here is an album that celebrates the holidays with steel drums and Caribbean joy.  They open with the familiar “Sleigh Ride” song, in this case “SOCA Sleigh Ride” featuring Joy Lapps on tenor steelpan. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” follows with a lush horn section supporting the happy sounding steelpan melodic line. The horn arrangement is by Larnell Lewis.

Joy Lapps is an artist, an educator and composer with Antiguan roots and a master’s degree in steelpan composition in jazz.  Joy pushes the boundaries of steelpan.  Her husband is Larnell Lewis who is also an artist, educator, arranger and a member of the Grammy Award-winning band, Snarky Puppy.  He brings his St. Kitts heritage to the studio along with a mastery of jazz, soul music, gospel, Caribbean genres and R&B. Together, this couple manages to infuse every holiday song with these awesome attributes.

Track #3 is “Petit Papa Noel/Old Town Trains” that features Suria Lapps on lead vocals. She has a sweet soulful voice that dances on top of the Caribbean shuffle groove. She sings some of the song in French.

“This is what Christmas sounded like when my family would get together and play instruments, sing and dance.  Music is part of how we gather, how we engage with and strengthen our community.  And also, just to do something good for the soul,” Larnell Lewis explained.

The band is made up of some of Toronto, Canada’s top musicians. The arrangements are fresh and delightful. For example, tunes like “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Little Drummer Boy” are showcased in wonderful rhythmic arrangements. “On “Carol of the Bells” you get a taste of reggae.

This album represents global culture and Christmas music arranged to not only inspire us, but to celebrate the Caribbean culture.  It’s playful, full of rhythm, and bursting with happiness.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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