Kelly Finnigan’s first Christmas album. After a splendid solo stint in 2019 with The Tales People Tell and five albums with the Monophonics, the son of organists Mike Finnigan, who played with greats like Etta James, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Cocker, has chosen to try his hand at the end of year festivities. A Joyful Sound is made up of original compositions in pure 70s soul tradition, a tradition Kelly and his soulful falsetto tried to avoid when he was younger. But the rap samples eventually pointed him in the right direction, towards greats like Curtis Mayfield, Nat King Cole and Marvin Gaye. In eleven concise tracks featuring wind, brass and glockenspiel instrumentals, the Californian performs some funk (Just One Kiss) and rhythm’n’blues with the help of some of the best musicians on the scene: Dap-Kings, Delvon Lamarr and Ghost Funk Orkestra. The album peaks with the languorous No Tim To Be Sad where Finnigan excels. A flawless soul gem, more than a simple Christmas album. © Charlotte Saintoin/Qobuz