click icon for iTunes
British jazz-rock-blues-soul singer Sarah Jane Morris released Angels at Christmas, a limited edition CD of 7 songs Kathryn co-wrote, in December 2007: Come Christmas, Come Love; The Moon on Christmas Eve; A Child Is Born; Ring the Bells Come Christmas, Christmas; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Eve; In Bethlehem; and Walkabout Winter. Kathryn wrote all of the songs with Fran Minarik, excepting The Moon on Christmas Eve, which she wrote with Werner "Vana" Gierig.The album is available at sarahjanemorris.comiTunes , and other digital outlets. Santa's Christmas Tune, a swinging holiday track co-written with Fran Minarik, also may be downloaded at sarahjanemorris.comSarah Jane performed songs from Angels at Christmas during her northern Italy holiday tour in December, with Italian jazz pianist Danilo Rea.The Moon on Christmas Eve previously was performed by jazz vocalist Melissa Walker on Marian McPartland ’s holiday NPR radio program and included on the renowned jazz pianist’s holiday album, An NPR Jazz Christmas with Marian McPartland and Friends III , and on her 3-CD box set, An NPR Jazz Christmas Collection with Marian McPartland . The song was chosen as a “Track Pick†by All Music Guide (1 of only 3 songs chosen from the album).
“I love that people are writing new tunes
for the season. Maybe one day that one will be
a Christmas standard.†-- Marian McPartland
click icons for NPR
Highlights: ‘Tis the Season of the Year, another holiday tune co-written with Werner “Vana†Gierig, has received annual radio airplay on 100+ stations. The song also was selected as one of the Top 5 winners in the Great American Song Contest’s Special Music category. Song of the Year competition -Santa’s Christmas Tune, A Child is Born and In Bethlehem, all co-written with Fran Minarik, named Runners Up 11/2007. -Down to the River (Fran Minarik, co-writer) received Honorable Mention 10/2007. -I’m Partial (Fran Minarik, co-writer) selected as a Top 5 finalist in the Instrumental/Jazz/World category 4/2004. Broadjam -‘Tis the Season of the Year (Werner “Vana†Gierig, co-writer) voted Number 1 in the Top 10 Holiday category 2006. The song also places in the Top 10 in 3 additional categories: Northeast, New York, and Unique. -Can’t We Stand at the River (Werner “Vana†Gierig, co-writer), voted Number 2 in the Gospel category. -The Moon on Christmas Eve (Werner “Vana†Gierig, co-writer), repeatedly voted into the Top 10 Holiday category. -Voice In My Head (Werner “Vana†Gierig, co-writer), voted into the Top 10 Jazz category. -I’m Partial, co-written with Fran Minarik, voted into Top 10 Unique Song category. Why Must We Be So Brutal selected as a Featured Song at New Songs For Peace, a UNESCO-endorsed music project designed to encourage people to think and talk about peace. Please visit newsongsforpeace.org.