Béla Fleck

Are you sick of the same cheery songs or the kitschy and cute offerings, like "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" or "Christmas Wrapping"? Then you're in for a real treat if you want something different and unique, thanks to this country-flavored, vocal-and-lyric-less and entirely experimental Christmas soundtrack from Bela Fleck & The Flecktones.

Bela and the 'Tones have crafted a banjo-laden alternative to standard holiday musical fare with Jingle All the Way! Fleck deconstructs the classics and rebuilds them in a forward-thinking way, with his signature banjo flair. "Jingle Bells," "Silent Night," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "The Hanukah Waltz" are "Flecked," and these long-standing tunes are subjected to unexpected makeovers. Since there are no lyrics, the time-honored melodies need to stand out to be appreciated as holiday music and for the most part, they do. But there are moments on Fleck's re-imaginings, like "Christmas Time Is Here," where the songs aren't instantly recognizable, adding the element of surprise. But for the most part, Fleck and bassist Victor Wooten do their damnedest to retain the "holiday spirit" of the originals.

So, instead of moaning and groaning about your hatred of the Christmas music that's ubiquitous from December through the first week of January, indulge in an "out-there" version of the carols you loved so much as a kid. The Flecktones earn extra points for their inclusion of "Linus and Lucy" for all the Peanuts fans.

A note of caution, as well. Jingle All the Way is sure to turn off those listeners who don't like jammy, convoluted music or new takes on things that are old-fashioned. Bela Fleck & The Flecktones twist these songs to fit their individual style, rather than twist their style to fit these traditional songs. It's not quirky; it's odd and strange, but there is a sub-section of music fans who also happen to celebrate Christmas that will be tickled red and green by these reworkings.

— Amy Sciarretto
12.15.08

Grammy-winning banjo "fusionist" Béla Fleck and his Flecktones may be the most qualified collective to inject some life into the notoriously monotonous "holiday music" scene, and Jingle All the Way (one would think that an innovator like Fleck could come up with a more creative "Christmas" album title, or at least one that doesn't directly reference a 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy), doesn't disappoint. All of the standards are here ("Sleigh Ride," "Silent Night," "Twelve Days of Christmas"), but they're filtered through the skewed prism of an outfit capable of just about anything from klezmer, to classical to Tuvan throat singing -- the latter is provided by the internationally acclaimed Alash Ensemble. It's not all wacky though, as Fleck, Victor Wooten, Jeff Coffin, and Future Man prove reverent when needed, especially on a cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" and the Vince Guaraldi classics "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmas Time Is Here." Jingle All the Way, despite its groaner of a title and questionable "frontman in Santa hat with eggnog" photo, is anything but predictable. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide