ADVENT is my first ever recorded project. My dad, Bill Pearson, came up with the rough arrangements which we fine-tuned together through the recording process. Dad played tenor sax, flute, and soprano sax on the album. My friend Jemar Poteat played both drums and bass. We tracked winds over that foundation, and added keyboards last. 1. Do You Hear What I Hear: Mellow-groovy arrangement of one of my favorite songs. Piano solo was inspired by Vince Guaraldi and sax solo picks it up and takes us to embellished melodies to end the tune. Bass and drums make this one. 2. My Favorite Things: Classic from The Sound of Music adapted into a rhythmic, energetic jazz-waltz. Duel between drums and keys and of course lots of jazz flute. 3. Jesu / Silent Night: Clean mash-up of two very traditional Christmas themes. 4. Baby It’s Cold Outside: Classic duet but both parts are played by Bill Pearson. Middle of tune continues the “conversation” with a new melody that uses tone, timbre, and new melody, instead of lyrics, to tell a story. 5. Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!: Upbeat. Classic. 6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Very modern reinvention of very traditional carol. Original melody and harmony quickly fall apart. Improvised modal solos build tension until the piece collapses. Melody returns more peacefully with new harmonization second time. 7. Little Drummer Boy: Simple Christmas song combined with theme from Ravel’s Bolero on Alto Sax. Steady, consistent drumming. 8. Jingle Bells: Upbeat arrangement that transitions suddenly from Latin to Swing. Rhythmic drums and dissonant runs. 9. BC Clark Jingle: The Oklahoma favorite! 10. Santa Claus is Coming to Town: Modernized rag-time feel with Miles Davis quote appearing in improvised solos and serving as the bookends to the tune. 11. O Come, O Come Emmanuel: The “big finish” to the album. Mysterious, energetic drums and bass support multi-tracked saxophones and synthesized B3 Strings. Quieter sections with eerie harmonization foreshadow sudden epic moments. Solo section seems to tell an important story that makes second half more meaningful than the first. 12. Christmas Time is Here: Introspective and warm finish to the album. Solo keyboard with sparse saxophone. Keys subtly reharmonize a warm classic and use abrupt silence to create a feeling of urgency in the midst of a very calm, sooting texture. Mixed by Russell Combs Mastered by Kevin Lively Album Artwork by Gwyn Rainey and Kenya Cupps Created start to finish in Oklahoma City, OK My name is Christian Pearson. If you hear my voice in my instrumental music, feel free to reach out. Would love to hear form you. cp