Xavier Rudd - Dark Shades of Blue - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Shortly before Christmas, when more than 25,000 people flock to the stadium for the big Advent concert and hundreds of thousands of TV viewers take their seats in their living rooms, that's when Christmas really begins for many Dresdeners. What began in 2015 as part of the celebrations for the anniversary of the world-famous Dresdner Kreuzchor has now become one of the biggest and most beautiful Christmas events in Germany flanked by stars from the international music world, one of the best boys' choirs in the world presents the most famous Christmas melodies in classical and modern arrangements. The new album captures the unique atmosphere of this special event on double album and brings it into the living room. The album features long term acquaintances of the Adventskonzert as well as new musical partners of the Kreuzchor In a duet with the choir, rock legend Peter Maffay enchants with his Tabaluga hit InchNessaja - Ich wollte nie erwachsen seinInch (InchNessaja - I never wanted to be grown upInch), while Finnish star soprano Camilla Nylund brings the atmosphere of Scandinavian Christmas to Germany. Tenor Klaus Florian Vogt, at home on all stages of the world and also a guest on the album, is featured with InchO holy NightInch and InchAdeste fidelisInch. Musical and soul accents are set by Sabrina Weckerlin, who adds another facet to the special genre mix. The same goes for Finnish trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth and her very own Christmas sound. The Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, read by Samuel Koch, rounds off the new studio album.

This singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist brings clear vision, personality, and an independent attitude to his beguiling songs. His debut is a collection of soulful melodies and dense instrumental textures that takes the work of classic singer-songwriters as template. An advocate of Aboriginal rights, Rudd also admires the dense simplicity of Aboriginal music, often building his songs from his bare soles on a wooden resonator box and the breath humming in his didgeridoo.

Emerging from the studio after recording his dream project - the long awaited dub sessions, Nanna - Xavier Rudd returns to front a full band The United Nations, featuring bass, drums, keys, horns, flute, guitar, backing vocalists, percussion and representing musicians from many cultures including Australia / indigenous Australia, South Africa, Samoa, Germany, Ireland & Papua New Guinea.