Ever since the 1990s, we’ve seen a great revival in the release of brand new seasonal sounds for Christmas music lovers. Memphis-based guitarist/singer Mick Kolassa, lifelong musician and hardcore blues aficionado, enjoys playing “free style blues” because he love all styles in the genre. His road has taken him from Michigan to Mississippi to Memphis, and the musician was nicknamed “Michissippi Mick.” He also has a talent for finding the blues hidden in songs of other genres, and “bluesifying” them by doing what he calls “uncovers.”  While some of my favorite collections of hip holiday music were put out by the Rhino label and featured Christmas classics from the likes of John Lee Hooker, Canned Heat Lightnin’ Hopkins, James Brown and Chuck Berry,  Uncle Mick’s Christmas Album is certainly one that will also get your merry mojo working.   

Kolassa’s opening take on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is one that will get you cuddling with your honey under the mistletoe by a warm fireplace. With a New Orleans street beat, “Frosty the Snowman” comes alive with bluesy magic. Kolassa’s self-penned “The Best Christmas Ever” is a standout track, largely because of the song’s poignant and nostalgic lyrical message coupled with backing vocals from Reba Russell and Susan Marshall. A few other tracks, like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Merry Christmas Baby” could’ve benefited from their vocalizing too. The latter was a 1947 hit for Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers, featuring Charles Brown’s smoother-than-brandy vocals.

The rest of the band includes Jeff Jensen (guitar), Bill Ruffino (bass), Rick Steff (keys), James Cunningham (drums), Eric Hughes (harmonica) and Marc Franklin (trumpet). Closing with some other originals, “Christmas Morning Blues” and “Beale Street Christmas Jam,” one realizes that this is just a very playable collection of bluesified songs that might even get the Grinch smiling. The album is holding a strong position at #11 on The Roots Music Report's Top 50 Holiday Album Chart in December 2023. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)