Music
Following his auspicious 2008 debut Rise of the Phoenix and the 2012 set Soul of Man that explored musical excursions into funk, R&B, soul and Brazilian music, Alvin Pope is now taking his musical journey farther with the release of The Good Life. This time around, Pope vibes with genre superstar and #1 hit maker Nils to create an infectious set of nine dynamic originals and two powerful covers. The title of the album came to the keyboardist towards the end of the recording process, and it perfectly summarizes the joyful spirit of the collection and Pope’s optimism moving forward: The Good Life. The first single is a lively, super soulful and funk driven “Body Heat” includes snazzy horn doubling fills courtesy of Jeff Kashiwa in addition to Pope’s lively synth and piano solos.
"Emotional and compelling, Soul of a Man certainly allows Pope to connect to listeners through his intimate moods."
– Brian Soergel, JazzTimes
The holiday season is a magical time of the year, especially for children. As a child, I have fond memories of eagerly anticipating the airing of several Holiday Specials on television. "A Charlie Brown Christmas" remains one of my all-time favorite episodes, bringing out the inner child in me. I aimed to create a contemporary arrangement that captures the essence of the song "Christmas Time Is Here," drawing inspiration from the Peanuts Holiday Special of my childhood.
Jazz music is a fantastic way to introduce young audiences to the world of music while bridging generations. Whether you're a child or a child at heart, I hope you enjoy this modern rendition of a timeless classic!
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