There are calm, soothing versions of Christmas carols and standards that are amplified throughout shopping malls and big box stores. But Montreal blues rock group Izzo Blues Coalition have injected a fresh sense of verve and energy with their blistering cover of "Merry Christmas Baby." It's a performance that would make Santa question whether he wants to put himself on the nice or naughty list.
According to the group -- consisting of singer and keyboardist Annie Major-Matte, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Tino Izzo, bassist and backing vocalist Domenic Romanelli, and drummer Bob Telaro -- "Merry Christmas Baby" was a spur of the moment source of inspiration. "A last-minute thought, Tino Izzo suddenly decided to take the song into the studio and start working on a seed of an idea for the arrangement," the band says. "Annie came in to record her vocal take even before the song fully took form. They had to wait a week for Bob to get back from vacation, unrehearsed to rush into the studio with Domenic to record the drum and bass tracks. This spontaneous process gave the song a raw, authentic energy..."
Originally written by Johnny Dudley Moore and Lou Baxter and first performed by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers back in 1947, "Merry Christmas Baby" has had a rich history in the nearly 77 years since then. Recorded by the likes of Otis Redding, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley and Melissa Etheridge among countless others, "Merry Christmas Baby" is a scorching blues rock single from Izzo Blues Coalition. Major-Matte's delivery in the vein of Sass Jordan, Beth Hart, or Bonnie Raitt is playful and sassy, while Izzo delivers a rollicking solo that can be heard and appreciated by the busy elves in the North Pole. The rhythm section of Romanelli and Telaro are solid throughout, laying the foundation for the bluesy but slightly funky groove that keeps your mistletoes, er, toes tapping and head bobbing.
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"Merry Christmas Baby" is the latest release from Izzo Blues Coalition who have a new studio album entitled Rise Again slated for release on Feb. 7. Izzo Blues Coalition released its debut album Complicated Man in 2019, while their sophomore effort Take It Or Leave It came out in the fall of 2021. Izzo, influenced and inspired by guitar greats such as Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, has worked with, written for, or produced an array of powerhouse artists over his career, including Celine Dion, Roch Voisine, Petula Clark, and Bobby Bazini, among others. Izzo also earned a Billboard Choice Award for instrumental guitar albums he released in the '90s.
Izzo Blues Coalition, who will tour in support of their forthcoming Rise Again album, have played at Festival International du Blues de Tremblant among others while covering classics by Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Winter and Albert King alongside original material. In short, they are a great live band who deliver a "genuine live music experience." Not bad for a group who reportedly formed when Izzo and Telaro (a longtime musical partner of Izzo) met for a jam session while drinking some scotch!
Now with a new album on the horizon and "Merry Christmas Baby" ready for the festive season, Izzo Blues Coalition will ensure that every creature is stirring with this incredible, bluesy rendition. Even the mice!
