‘Tis the season indeed for some holiday cheer after a difficult year – and Leslie Odom, Jr. made it even better by releasing a brand-new holiday album, The Christmas Album, on November 6.
The 10-track album boasts a collection of beloved traditional favourites along with newly penned, original tracks that are sure to become instant holiday classics for years to come.
2 new songs
Coinciding with the album announce, the Grammy and Tony Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, author and actor Leslie is celebrating Christmas early with the release of two new songs.
The first, Winter Song, features Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winner Cynthia Erivo and showcases both artistes’ unparalleled talent. The second is Snow, which is the first of two original holiday singles along with Heaven & Earth, set to be featured on the album.
On The Christmas Album, Leslie reimagines timeless holiday hits including Last Christmas, O Holy Night, It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas and more.
The album also features Leslie’s version of the Christmas classic, Little Drummer Boy, performed with the Mzansi Youth Choir, who offer a beautiful, energetic youthful sound with a South African touch. You can listen to this single on YouTube here.
Broadway star, singer, actress, and Leslie’s wife, Nicolette Robinson, joins him on a traditional Chanukah song, Ma’oz Tzur, which pays homage to their own diverse, extended family coming together around the holiday season.
Inclusion message
By including a few non-Christmas songs on the album, Leslie’s goal was to spread the message of inclusion, stressing how important it is to respect and celebrate our differences, now more than ever.
Reflecting on the album, Leslie says, “Man lemme tell you…we sang our hearts on this album. We needed to. I believe you’ll hear it and feel it when you listen.”
The Christmas Album marks Leslie’s second holiday album following Simply Christmas, which he re-released in winter 2017 as a deluxe edition in winter with new arrangements and new songs. The holiday album hit #1 on iTunes and Billboard Jazz Charts.
The Christmas Album follows Mr., Leslie’s third album and first of all-original material, released in November 2019.
Most recently, he teamed up with nine-time Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist Sia to debut a re-recorded, new version of standout track “Cold” – listen here.