8 months ago
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Away in a Manger, a song which tells of the lowly birth of Jesus, as chronicled in the Holy Bible, is one of the all-time favourite Christmas carols sung around the world during the Yuletide season.
There’s something about Away in a Manger that was made for the tinkling of the ivories and accomplished pianist and touring musician, Jordan ‘JmajorScale’ Williams, has used his fingers to caress the keys and come up with an arrangement that threatens to bring out goose pimples.
His aim, he said, was to “breathe new life into the cherished carol [by] combining lush harmonies and intricate piano lines that reflect both the warmth of the season and the depth of its message”.
“I also wanted to take a much different approach while still keeping the melody authentic to create a nostalgic yet new sound,” Williams elaborated to The Gleaner during a recent interview.
The Jamaica-based artiste, who was born in Britain, succeeded admirably.
Released early this month on his JmajoRecordz record label and now streaming on all major platforms, Away in a Manger has been reaching “the right ears” and Williams and his team are delighted by the feedback.
On his social media pages, there are a barrage of congratulatory comments on this “masterpiece” by “the maestro himself”. One of his followers who goes by the name Dada_Drumz wrote, “Beautiful bro ... it’s on repeat,” and signed off with a fire emoji, which was the symbol of choice for many to express their feelings about the song.
Quizzed if there are any plans for a Christmas album, Williams, who shared that he will be working on more Christmas singles for next year, said, “Who knows? I may just do an EP with a collection of my favourite carols.”
Quite fond of the season, the entertainer who is “committed to creating music that resonates emotionally with listeners” told The Gleaner what Christmas means to him.
“Christmas means joy entwined with friends, fun and family while reflecting on the past year as well as a time to give thanks to our Supreme Being for protecting us through the entire year,” the talented pianist said.
He is looking forward to embracing the new year, which he promises “will see more releases and collabs from JmajorScale as an artiste and producer”.
Hailed as a virtuoso who is known for his soulful sound and captivating performances, blending elements of all genres, Williams started his musical career at age eight playing instruments and singing in church and school groups.
According to his bio, his early introduction to music came from his father and brother who played records at home from their impressive collection, thus enhancing his musical ear and feel for various genres. His mother soon realised his talent and started him on classical piano classes.
Williams is currently enjoying an ever-growing fan base from tours as keyboard player for Tarrus Riley and several other reggae and dancehall heavyweights. However he is committed to carving out time for his personal projects as his goal is “to inspire through music and positive energy”.
English (US) ·