As Thanksgiving comes to a close, it’s time to get ready for the piano-jazz fusion season of Christmas. Ola W. Jansson and W JAZZ TRIO prepare us with one of my favorites, “Days of Wine and Roses”. Although not a Christmas song itself, “Days of Wine and Roses” encapsulates a lot of the same tropes as those familiar holiday tracks.
How Does it Sound?
A piano slowly treads through the track like footprints in snow. Light percussion taps and slides in the background as if snow was falling on the sound. The drums and the keys combine together for a smooth, relaxed jazz track. Ola W. Jansson and W JAZZ TRIO knew exactly what they were doing when making the song.
Who are the Musicians?
Ola W. Jansson and W JAZZ TRIO released “Days of Wine and Roses” as a single in 2021. Jansson is a Jazz musician based in the United States. W JAZZ TRIO is, of course, a Jazz trio of Swedish musicians. In the trio, Jansson is on the piano, Kristoffer Wallin on double bass, and Edvin Fridolfsson on drums. Together, all three of the musicians combine their sounds into smooth waves of melodies. The beautiful track we know as “Days of Wine and Roses” has a backstory that some may not be familiar with.
Its Original Version and Differences
Although in the Jazz world, “Days of Wine and Roses” is most famously known as a work by Wes Montgomery. Instead of a piano and drums, Montgomery strolls along the notes with an electric guitar. It is smooth and reverberated, sending hums to the listener’s soul. Montgomery released “Days of Wine and Roses” on his album Boss Guitar.
Yet even as a cover, Ola W. Jansson and W JAZZ TRIO’s version of “Days of Wine and Roses” holds its own. They bring their own beautiful aspects of the song to the table that Montgomery doesn’t. All the while, through their cover, the audience is able to relax by the crackling fire, put up decorations, and start to feel the Christmas spirit before it’s even dawned.
What song gets you ready for Christmas?
