NOEL: A Christmas Album from Leon Ware
The Estate of Singer/Songwriter Extraordinaire Leon Ware Gifts the World with His Unreleased Christmas EP, Noel
Collection includes 4 Christmas classics plus the original “Be Like Christmas”
On February 23, 2017, mere days after his 77th birthday, legendary songwriter Leon Ware departed this earth. The man had gifted the world with 13 albums of his own plus scores of timeless classic songs for others including “I Wanna Be Where You Are” (Michael Jackson), “I Want You” (Marvin Gaye), “If I Ever Lose This Heaven” (Quincy Jones / AWB), “Rolling Down a Mountainside” (Isaac Hayes / The Main Ingredient), “I Know It’s You” (Donny Hathaway) and “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” (Maxwell). And yet, he left behind even more gifts to give…the first being a heart-stilling 5-song EP of Christmas songs titled, Noel (Leon spelled backwards as well as the French origin word for Christmas).
Noel is an intimate, one-from-the-heart musical gift of love that Leon Ware had been working on in his home studio workshop over the years, during holiday times, along with engineer Gerry Brown. The project is comprised of Leon’s singular renditions of “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire),” “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells” (sung as a duet with Taura Stinson), plus the original composition “Be Like Christmas” that he composed with longtime friend/collaborator Richard Rudolph (Minnie Riperton) lovingly sung by dear friend Nikki Grier (often a featured singer in Leon’s live shows). All of the material was arranged by Leon with his singular bent for tropical rhythms, sensual tempos and tastefully lush harmonic sophistication. Leon handled all of the keyboards and programming, joined solely by guitarist Rob Bacon and some added programming by Darien Dorsey.
Noel’s artwork is derived from a painting of Leon’s creation.
The music of Noel is offered with love from Leon and to those we love. It is a testament to the spirit of the holiday and a uniquely felt expression of a timeless message in song that the world needs to hear.
Leon Ware’s Noel is a special holiday teaser leading up to the 2019 release of his final 12-song album, Rainbow Deux. Stay tuned. `Til then, have yourself a mellow little Christmas.
“Jingle Bells” Featuring Taura Stinson
JINGLE BELLS…like you’ve never heard it before ! This outstanding duet with TAURA STINSON is featured on LEON WARE’s EP entitled NOEL which was just released to all streaming services. It is also available as a digital download at CD Baby and iTunes.
Taura brings her unique talent and spirit to the track, as she has to many of Leon’s works over the years. Her talent as a songwriter were recognized by both the Golden Globes and Academy of Motion Pictures among others. She lovingly refers to Leon as her “musical father” and only she could bring this vibe to something he had not completed before his passing. Their seamless energy is evident.
Please enjoy and “jingle all the way”!
