A Jazz-Inspired Christmas: Piano Book & Online Audio/PDF

Curry's harmonies here avoid the predictable progressions that often dominate holiday arrangements. Each tune receives thoughtful jazz voicings that reward careful listening and offer genuine surprises, making these selections feel contemporary without losing the songs' essential character. The included recorded performances demonstrate exactly how these arrangements land musically, offering both a reference and an inspiration for your own interpretive choices.

These arrangements sit in that sweet spot between reverence and swing. The melodies remain recognizable and warm, but the harmonic language underneath speaks jazz fluently, with extended voicings and unexpected resolutions that keep your ears engaged. There's a sense of intimacy and musicality that rewards both the performer and listener.

Advanced pianists seeking holiday repertoire with genuine jazz sophistication. These arrangements work equally well for church services, secular Christmas programs, recitals, and concert performances where an audience expects serious musical substance alongside seasonal material.

• Listen through the composer's recorded performances first to hear how he voices the chord extensions and navigates the rhythmic syncopation. His tempo choices and touch will inform your own approach.
• Work through the melodic line separately from the harmonic accompaniment. This arrangement style requires independence between hands; practice each voice until you can execute the melody's phrasing without being derailed by jazz-inflected comping underneath.
• Experiment with the bass and drum parts (provided in PDF) in performance contexts where ensemble playing is possible. The chord symbols included make it easy to invite other musicians into the arrangement and expand the sound beyond solo piano.
• Explore improvisation opportunities within the harmonic framework. These arrangements provide rich harmonic vocabulary that invites soloing, making them excellent vehicles for developing jazz vocabulary and fluency.

Feature one arrangement as a solo recital piece or program opener to establish an elegant, jazz-inflected holiday aesthetic. Alternatively, select two or three shorter selections to build a holiday program segment that balances sacred tradition with contemporary arrangement sensibilities. With optional ensemble parts available, these work beautifully as collaborative piano-bass-drums performances during holiday services or concerts.

• Jazz voicing and harmony
• Playing through extended and altered chords
• Hand independence between melody and jazz comping
• Stylistic interpretation of swing rhythm
• Improvisation within a harmonic framework
• Reading chord symbols and lead sheets