Bela Fleck & The Flecktones – Jingle All the Way

Christmas had passed by, but I still have not passed up Bela Fleck & the Flecktones’ Jingle All the Way. Like the title suggested, Bela and his trio take Christmas songs and jingle them all the way.

I played the album for the first time at my in-law’s Christmas party and folks looked at me like I have a strange taste of music. The opening track alone is one of the most unique versions of “Jingle Bells” we have ever heard. They couldn’t understand what language the male’s vocalist was singing. I don’t either, but it doesn’t matter. It just sounds so freaking cool. Of course, Bela on the banjo is simply breathtaking.

Because Bela and the Flecktones had chosen such well-known Christmas tunes, they have the creative freedom to go all out. The result is that the group has created fresh new sounds to familiarized songs. Some of my personal favorites are “Silent Night,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Linus and Lucy.”

Don’t take my words for it. Find out for yourself by checking out “Bela Fleck Gives Christmas A Flecktone Fervor” on NPR.