Alex Bird, the Colbalt, Onatario based jazz vocalist is making Christmas his own. Alongside his songwriting partner Ewen Farncombe and their band, the Jazz Mavericks, Bird has released Another Christmas Day, a 10-song collection of original holiday music that captures the warmth, joy, and bittersweet moments of the season.

Fresh off their success with “The Sweetest Moments,” named Canada’s official Thanksgiving anthem in 2022, Bird and Farncombe have turned their attention to the Christmas season. This time, they deliver a holiday album that channels both timeless jazz traditions and contemporary emotions. “The darkest time of year is somehow full of light, magic, and love,” Bird reflects. “The holidays exist with both the happiest you can be but also the saddest. Some of the greatest Christmas classics are full of yearning and heartbreak, and we wanted to capture both the light and dark of this time of year. I hope the tunes on this album can find a place of peace, resonance, and healing with you ... they surely did with me when writing them.”

Recorded live at Toronto’s Canterbury Music Company - during the heat of July, no less - Another Christmas Day was crafted in a deliberately old-school style. Eschewing headphones and studio monitors, the band recorded together in the room, creating an organic, intimate vibe. The lineup includes Jacob Gorzhaltsan (tenor sax, clarinet), Julian Anderson-Bowes (bass), and Norbert Botos (drums, jingle bells), all of whom have contributed to the group’s JUNO nominated album, You Are The Light And The Way, and dynamic live shows.

The collection spans the emotional spectrum of the holidays, offering cozy tracks like “The Forecast For Today” and “A Cup Of Tea And You” alongside reflective, somber pieces like the title track, where Bird explores the loneliness that can surface during Christmas. “Not everyone has a great Christmas or someone to spend it with,” he says, “and some of this album is dedicated to that very real feeling and sentiment.”

Since his 2020 debut Whisky Kisses, Bird has been carving out a unique space in the jazz world, blending his love for the Great American Songbook with a fresh perspective. Raised on the music of Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, and Diana Krall, Bird’s evolution as a songwriter is evident in Another Christmas Day, which reimagines the holiday album experience as a heartfelt mix of nostalgia and originality.

“The history of Christmas music is rich and joyful,” Bird says. “From swingin’ tunes to sentimental ballads, it reminds us to be the best we can be for our fellow humans. Instead of re-treading through the past, I wanted to write new music that will hopefully keep the magic of Christmas going for many years to come.”