Album Notes

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas was born in a day. Recorded live by Tom Weir at Studio City Sound in Studio City, California who called me Monday to invite me to play their Christmas special Wednesday. Tuesday, I sat at the piano.


Jolly old saint Nicholas
Lean your ear this way.
I've got something on my mind
That I'd like to say.

Christmas eve is coming soon
And I don't need a thing
Paper dolls or skates or pearls
Or any diamond ring

So Santa, dear Santa: I'm counting my blessings this year
There are so many people with so little reason for cheer
Oh Santa, Santa, I'm sticking with gratitude here,
So fly on somewhere else with your reindeer.

When the clock is striking 3,
I should be fast asleep
But thoughts of those with less than me
Into my mind do creep.

See I don't have a chimney for you,
But I've a roof above
And I don't lack for food or drink
Or for sweet friends to love

So Santa, Santa, I'm counting my blessings this year
There are so many people with so little reason for cheer
Oh Santa, Santa, I'm sticking with gratitude here
So fly on somewhere else with your reindeer.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Lean your ear this way
Wealth of friendship, love and joy
Won't fit on your sleigh.


Kristen Toedtman writes and sings songs in the gospel-tinged all-American music tradition, mixed with flavors from different countries and different times. Her debut record The Fall was released at the start of 2010 and continues to sell from her website, at shows, on iTunes, cdBaby and Amazon.com. Kristen lives in Los Angeles, making a living singing regularly at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl with the LA Master Chorale, and performing with her chamber vocal group The Concord Ensemble. You can catch her performances at the Hotel Café, Room 5 and other venues solo and with her 7-piece band, playing her music and an occasional cover (from Argentine tango to Huey Lewis). She also travels back to her native east coast to perform with the Baltimore Afrobeat Society, honoring the music of late, great Fela Anikulapo Kuti in a 23+ member tribute band.

However, it's in classical music that Kristen first cut her teeth. She began her formal music training at the Manhattan School of Music prep division studying violin, continued at Indiana University's renowned School of Music, where she switched her major to voice and studied with Martina Arroyo. It was then back to her childhood home of Baltimore to earn her Masters in Voice with Phylis Bryn-Julson. She has recorded on three albums for the Harmonia Mundi label, premiered numerous compositions as soloist, and toured the east coast with her early music duo, Duo Encina.

Links:
http://www.kristentoedtman.com
http://www.facebook.com/kristentoedtmanmusic
http://www.twitter.com/kristentoedtman