GENESEO, NY — In the realm of traditional Christmas music, Miché Fambro is a recent convert
“I never cared for Christmas music,” he confesses. “I never would be a part of caroling or any of that kind of stuff.”
However, Fambro’s tenure in Washington D.C. had him singing a jazz repertoire invariably including a few Christmas standards.
“I started realizing these were beautiful songs and I loved singing them,” he asserts.
That love and beauty came through in the performance, to the extent that Fambro became an in-demand Christmas artist.
“I was getting a lot of calls to come and sing for Christmas events,” he advises, “so I certainly got to know the material.”
Among those who much appreciated the Fambro renditions was his wife Wendy, who absolutely insisted that her husband put some of this music on record.
Two years ago, when the Fambros returned to Geneseo, Miche honored the request, recording an EP of six tunes — four standards and two originals — which generated respectable online sales among his fan base.
Fambro describes the style as representative of his seldom heard “crooning mode.”
Fambro’s guitar skills are fabulous, but this record sets them aside to emphasize a voice which listeners will find no less appealing. Keyboard accompaniment is by Quinn Lawrence, Scott Bradley, Ralph Diekemper and Fambro himself.
Two cuts do not fall under the ‘crooning” characterization. ‘”I’ll be Home for Christmas” has ensemble backing with Fambro on guitar and something approaching a hip-hop feel, while “Christmas Time is Here” is presented with a Latin beat.
One of the originals, “For Always,” got its melody from a lullaby Fambro created for his daughter, for which Wendy supplied lyrics. The other original, “I Remember Love,” is pure Christmas in its theme, also with lyrics by Wendy.
Facebook and Miches’ own website have been generating sales, soon to be joined by itunes, while $10 CD copies are now in stock at Buzzo’s. Fambro is hoping to break some of the tunes on online jazz radio, but he readily agrees that almost anything on the record has commercial appeal and crossover potential
Those who would like to hear this material live can catch Fambro’s Christmas Show at The Lovin’ Cup on Jefferson Road in Henrietta on Sunday, Nov. 29, 7 to 9 p.m.
There will also be a show in Lakeville on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Church of Christ, 7 to 9 p.m.
Complete story appears in our Nov. 26 print edition.