Christmas Time Is Here (2024)

"Maclean, whose groups have frequently been lauded for the strength of their collective improvisatory vision, continues here in that unconstrained spirit with courageous risktaking and musical exploration springing from in the moment inspiration... Maclean delivers rich and prismatic interpretations of originals, standards, and other spontaneous contemplations." 
- Republic of Jazz

This contemplative and prismatic performance of the Vince Guaraldi holiday classic comes from JUNO nominated and 10X Global Music Award winning pianist NICK MACLEAN, who takes influences from jazz piano greats such as Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Brad Mehldau for his solo piano ruminations. Maclean, whose two divergent ensembles, Snaggle and Nick Maclean Quartet, are frequently lauded for their collective improvisatory vision, continues here in that unconstrained spirit with courageous risk-taking and musical exploration springing from in-the-moment inspirations.

​

Tracked during the "Can You Hear Me?" (2021, Browntasauras Records) sessions at the renowned Chalet Studio in Uxbridge, ON, "Christmas Time Is Here" was recorded spontaneously as a single take. Shaped by Maclean's respect and trust in his acclaimed producer BROWNMAN ALI's impactful omnipresent guidance, the result is a rich palette of gentle solo piano performance suffused with a warm holiday spirit.

​

This track is Maclean's sixth release on Browntasauras Records, following his JUNO nominated release "Convergence" from the NICK MACLEAN QUARTET feat. BROWNMAN ALI, and a stark contrast to Maclean's previous holiday single from SNAGGLE (Christmas Tune, 2016) which was a frenetic and turbulent piece conceived as a tongue-in-cheek foil to what Maclean views as a 'sonic monotony of joy' found in much commercial holiday music.

​

released December 6, 2024

​

:: Nick Maclean -- piano
:: Brownman Ali -- producer
:: Chalet Studio -- recording studio (David Chester, owner)
:: Justin Meli -- tracking engineer
:: Josh Bowman -- mix engineer
:: Justin Gray -- mastering engineer
:: Browntasauras Records -- record label