Album Notes

Andrea and James, the husband and wife songwriter-performing duo out of New York – collectively known by their first initials as äj, (pronounced Ahhsh) – have dedicated their musical lives to expanding the love they’ve shared in their personal relationship into a collective universal and spiritual mindset. The soulful duo of äj are talented singers, songwriters, musicians, producers, and educators. (Andrea vocals, flute & keyboards, James vocal & guitar). They blend their talents in a flawless arrangement of thoroughly fresh and unique weaving of threads that allows you to sit back and relax.
The first track, a Christmas favorite, ‘Carol Of The Bells’ features Andrea and James two voices as a ‘choir’ of four voices with soprano, alto, tenor, & bass parts. “The idea of moving beyond the ordinary became the driving force of the album”, says Andrea. “We wanted to create something for children as well as adults to enjoy.” Andrea is referring to the spoken piece (Reindeer On The Rooftop) which includes the voices of their two young children as seemingly abandoned reindeer on a rooftop. The title track for their sixth CD recording Christmas Inspiration was inspired by the late
Donny Hathaway’s Christmas classic ‘This Christmas’. ‘Our intention was to make music worthy of being a part of a family tradition for many years to come.” With a lush blend of romance and groove, (I’ll Be Loving You This Christmas), jazzy sensibilities and classic soul, (What Child Is This?) influences ringing throughout äj takes a few exotic twists in the form of a playful calypso, (All I Want For Christmas Is Some Peas & Rice) drawing upon James’ mixed Guyanan and Trinidadian heritage.
Married 15 years, James and Andrea’s musical partnership extends into many exciting and diverse areas in the realms of performance, education, song and lyric writing and record production. Collectively or individually, they have been involved in the field of music education for the past twenty years. Their vocal harmonies are smooth and tight and their sound is fresh but familiar. äj enriches the tradition of American Music bringing real musicianship to songs we can all relate to and relish at Christmas time.