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The Caribbean Christmas Mixtape Vol. 1

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About The Album

Born to parents who immigrated to Canada from the Caribbean islands of Antigua and St. Kitts, Joy and Larnell grew up in the metro Toronto area among extended families with rich musical heritages. This album celebrates Caribbean artistic ingenuity while unfolding as a musical love letter to family, friends and faith.

The Music

The album transforms beloved Christmas carols into new arrangements with influences. From the opening "Soca Sleigh Ride" - blending soca, calypso and Trinidadian genre influences with playful pop sensibility - to "Silent Night" featuring the trio of Joy, Larnell and pianist Courtenay Frazer, each track offers a fresh perspective on familiar traditions.

Featured Tracks Include:

  • Soca Sleigh Ride (Music by Leroy Anderson)

  • Santa Clause is Comin' to Town (Written by J Fred Coots & Haven Gillespie)

  • Petit Papa Noël/Old Toy Trains feat. Subria Lapps (Words by Raymond Vincy and Roger Miller, Music by Henri Martinet and Roger Miller))

  • Edelweiss feat. Subria Lapps & Justin Bacchus (Music by Richard Rodgers, Words by Oscar Hammerstein II)

  • O Little Town of Bethlehem (Traditional)

  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane)

  • Little Drummer Boy feat. Subria Lapps (Words and Music by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati & Harry Simeone)

  • Carol of the Bells (Music by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych)

  • Silent Night (Music by Franz Xaver Gruber - Traditional)

The Artists

Joy Lapps - Artist, Educator, Creative Consultant and Creative Womanist. Joy has recorded several albums exploring steelpan within Caribbean, sacred and popular music before earning her masters degree researching the history and development of composition for steelpan in Jazz. She has performed with her ensemble The Joy Lapps Project at festivals and events across Canada, the U.S. and internationally.

Larnell Lewis - Is a Grammy-winning drummer, educator and member of Snarky Puppy. Surrounded by multi-instrumentalists within his immediate and extended families, Larnell's life as a "stage baby", alongside his music education supplemented by a mosaic of styles and live performances, informs his empathic artistic sensibility. This 2x Juno nominated artist, has also travelled and performed internationally as the bandleader and composer of The Larnell Lewis Band.

Credits & Production

Artists:

  • Joy Lapps - Co-producer, Co-Arranger, Tenor Steelpan, Double Second Steelpan,

  • Larnell Lewis - Co-Producer, Co-Arranger, Drums, Bass, Percussion, Auxiliary Keyboards, Synth Lead Solo)

Featured Musicians:

  • Rich Brown (bass)

  • Rob Christian (flute)

  • Elmer Ferrer (guitar)

  • Courtenay Frazer (organ, piano, auxiliary keyboard)

  • Jeremy Ledbetter (piano)

  • Jan Morgan (trumpet)

  • Michael Skel Redhead (tenor sax)

  • Andrew Stewart (bass)

  • Roshane Wright (congas, percussion)

  • Rosendo Chendy Leon (percussion)

  • Terry Woode (trombone)

Special Guest Vocalists:

  • Subria Lapps

  • Justin Bacchus

Technical Team

  • Recorded at @revolutionrecording (Tracks 1-5)

  • Lead Engineer: John “Beetle” Bailey

  • Assistant Engineer: Luke Schindler

  • Assistant Engineer: Christine Stoesser

  • Additional Recordings Engineered by:

    • Julian Decorte for Canterbury Music (Track 6)

    • Larnell Lewis - The K Group Sound Exchange (Tracks 7, 8, 9)

    • Rob Christian for RC Sound (Saxophones on Track 8)

  • Mixed by John “Beetle” Bailey

  • Mastered by Harry Hess for H Bomb Studios

Creative & Visual Team:

  • Album Artwork: Jesse Ryan of Fwé Culture Design 

  • Album Photography: Avital Zemer

  • Liner Notes: Michael Ambrosino

  • Live Recording Set Decor: Raquel John Events

  • Makeup Artists: Danika Battieste & Faces By Pureness

  • Stylist: Val Andrews of Stylin’ By Val

  • Hair: Meshie Hair

  • Director, Lighting Designer, Camera Operator, Editor - Thom Varey

  • Camera Operators - Niall Collins, Brittany Farhat, Matthew Fong, Anastasia Lantsova, Marco Libretti, Dmitry Lopatin, Julian Peter 

  • Executive Producers: Joy Lapps & Larnell Lewis

  • Project Management: Joy Lapps-Lewis for The K Group Inc.