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T<\/span><\/span>here is, it seems, nothing <\/span><\/span>to which <\/span><\/span>Collette Cooper cannot turn her hand. <\/span><\/span>She is a writer, singer, actress, and poet. Cooper proves her depth of talent again on this C<\/span><\/span>hristmas release<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> ‘<\/span><\/span>Darkside<\/span><\/span> of Christmas'( Thelonious Punk records) is an <\/span><\/span>alternative take on the familiar deluge of yuletide projects<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>The album is a Christmas record<\/span><\/span> but reflects<\/span><\/span> the current political and social environment caused by the impact of national and global events<\/span><\/span>. Cooper is deeply empathetic to her fellow human beings, which is apparent on every track. She touches on seasonal jollities but recognizes recent global difficulties, too, and manages to imbue the emotions of <\/span><\/span>love<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>loss<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>the understanding that Christmas festivities can temporarily mask the realities of some situations. Like a gift-wrapped present, Cooper includes compassion, <\/span><\/span>wry wit, edgy <\/span><\/span>humour<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and outstanding musicianship<\/span><\/span> in a seasonal release perfect for our time. <\/span><\/span>Cooper is gifted <\/span><\/span>with <\/span><\/span>a voice <\/span><\/span>unmistakable in its husky tones, packed with pathos and emotion that<\/span><\/span> can take you on a journey from heartbreak to heavenly bliss<\/span><\/span> in an instant<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n Along with Cooper’s individual take on Christmas carols and songs, there is poignancy when she sings ‘Another Day,’ which is <\/span><\/span>dedicated to <\/span><\/span>her<\/span><\/span> best friend Claire Bonham, who unexpectedly passed away in 2020.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n Cooper<\/span><\/span>‘s friend and <\/span><\/span>princip<\/span><\/span>al<\/span><\/span> cellist in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra<\/span><\/span>, Richard Harwood, joins Cooper for the album. His <\/span><\/span>unrivaled<\/span><\/span> bowmanship<\/span><\/span> is intensely felt <\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>n their version of <\/span><\/span>‘<\/span><\/span>Silent Night<\/span><\/span>.’ She also recruited <\/span><\/span>notable jazz musicians Andy Davies <\/span><\/span>( Tony Kofi, Kitty La Roar, and more) <\/span><\/span>and Kevin Davy <\/span><\/span>( Finlay <\/span><\/span>Quaye<\/span><\/span>, Lamb, and others) <\/span><\/span>on trumpets<\/span><\/span> and<\/span><\/span> Liam Stevens<\/span><\/span> (<\/span><\/span>Aydenne<\/span><\/span> Simone, Liam Stevens Quartet, and more)<\/span><\/span>and James Pearson<\/span><\/span> (James Pearson Trio, <\/span><\/span>Wynton<\/span><\/span> Marsalis, Cleo Laine and more)<\/span><\/span> on piano. Their presence enhances the recording with their individual and collective dexterity and flair<\/span><\/span>. The <\/span><\/span>Kings Voices Gospel Choir add<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> vibrancy and warmth<\/span><\/span>, and <\/span><\/span>legendary<\/span><\/span> British actor Ray Winstone<\/span><\/span> lends his distinctive voice to some numbers, topping what proves a sumptuous seasonal feast.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n Trumpet heralds Gruber and Mohr’s ‘<\/span><\/span>Silent Night<\/span><\/span>‘ to open the album. Ray <\/span><\/span>Winstone’s<\/span><\/span> liquid tones recite Cooper’s original poem.<\/span><\/span> “<\/span><\/span>Christmas night falls upon the darkness of the land, the blackbird crows where the brave man stands, but there in the night is an imminent light beaming down bright, yet hides where the brave man stands upon the darkness of the land<\/span><\/span>.”<\/span><\/span> Cooper enters with her sensu<\/span><\/span>al<\/span><\/span> rendition of the familiar carol, underpinned by Harwood’s sumptuous and richly dark ‘cello. Gospel<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>infused styling gives Cooper’s rich, deep vocals room to fly and the gentle, <\/span><\/span>lilting<\/span><\/span> background <\/span><\/span>harmonies<\/span><\/span> from King’s Voices add to the atmosphere. The ‘cello solo adds a touch of the divine<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> and al<\/span><\/span>l<\/span><\/span> is calm – until Cooper<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> in her inimitable manner, <\/span><\/span>lifts the vocal intensity rising in arcs and emotive ripples over the increasingly textured vocal lines of the <\/span><\/span>choir<\/span><\/span>. The harmonics of the final bars are wonderful<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> with Cooper handing back to the whispering snowstorm effects and sensual trumpet song.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n George and Ira Gershwin’s ‘It <\/span><\/span>Ain’t<\/span><\/span> Necessarily So<\/span><\/span>,’<\/span><\/span> is delivered with all the sassiness of a <\/span><\/span>succubus, and the energy of a sprite. <\/span><\/span>Usu<\/span><\/span>ally a male solo, this lady delivers <\/span><\/span>on <\/span><\/span>full throttle <\/span><\/span>with <\/span><\/span>unctuous spirituality, combining an irreverence for the words of the holy<\/span><\/span> book with respect to the original annotation. <\/span><\/span>It ends with repeated bars from ‘Christmas Bells.’ <\/span><\/span>Sportin<\/span><\/span>‘ Life, the character who sings this song in ‘Porgy and Bess’ might well approve.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n Cooper’s original composition ‘ Another Day’ is a <\/span><\/span>tribute<\/span><\/span> to her friend Claire Bonham<\/span><\/span>