Sounds of Christmas – CD and DVD From Summer Brooke & MFB
The Sounds of Christmas from Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band is this year’s “feel good” holiday project delivered to you by Mountain Fever Records. This compilation of classic Christmas songs sprinkled with a couple of originals, is new and fresh, and will revive the kid in you during this magical time of year. The Sounds of Christmas is available in video 
and audio format today.
Recorded live before a studio audience at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, North Carolina, The Sounds of Christmas is one of the most fun, fresh, and exciting presentations of classic holiday music and also includes a couple of original songs. Summer McMahan has one of the most delightful voices in modern day acoustic music with a personality to match and both shine beautifully throughout the entire set list of 16 tracks. She handles most of the lead vocals—with a couple of special duets thrown in the mix—as well as fiddle. Brayden McMahan is always mesmerizing with his banjo work and The Sounds of Christmas brings that to the forefront. He also sings a beautiful duet on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with his sister, Summer. Nick Dauphinais provides outstanding harmony, as well as an occasional lead, that truly showcases his vocal chops while also keeping a very steady, and sometimes out-front, guitar track. He even surprises listeners with another talent not often heard in acoustic music—trombone. The only thing better than hearing Cory Piatt play mandolin is watching him. His note-selection for every song is made even more perfect by the enthusiasm he exudes, whether a frolicking up-tempo or a profoundly emotive selection. The family’s patriarch, Sam McMahan rounds out the core band by providing stand-up bass throughout. The Sounds of Christmas offers a tastefully presented full production concert that features the following special guests:
Mickey McMahan – Piano
Chris Wright – Drums/Vocals
Jet Willis – Irish Whistle
Jessica Willis – Fiddle
Katie Fortner – Guest Vocal on “Smoky Mountain Christmas”
Jimmy Grissom – Guest Vocal on “Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem”
Sandra McMahan – Introductions
The Sounds of Christmas is available on CD but is best enjoyed in full color via a DVD. Both formats may be purchased through various outlets including Amazon (DVD/CD) and iTunes (CD), mountainfever.com, and summerbrookemusic.com. Radio Programmers my download the album via AirplayDirect.
Track List
- Winter Wonderland (2:49)
- Jingle Bell Rock (2:11)
- Carol Of The Bells (2:17)
- Sleigh Ride (2:37)
- Christmas In Heaven (3:30)
- Santa Train (2:17)
- Come On Ring Those Bells (3:23)
- Smoky Mountain Christmas (3:04)
- Silent Night (3:45)
- Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem (3:04)
- With Bells On (2:40)
- Christmas Day At My House (2:18)
- Little Bit Of Heaven (2:55)
- O Come, O Come Emanuel (3:29)
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2:27)
- Joy To The World (3:37)
About Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band
Sylva, North Carolina’s innovative ensemble is Summer McMahan on fiddle, her brother Brayden on banjo, their dad Sam on bass, with Nick Dauphinais on guitar, and Cory Piatt on mandolin. They made their mark on the hearts of everyone who watched them shine on America’s Got Talent and fans of the band watched intently as they made their way to the semi-finals of this nationally broadcast network television show. Since then, they have made their Grand Ole Opry debut, won the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2016 Emerging Artist of the Year, have been appearing regularly at professional sports stadiums across the country performing the National Anthem, and were named the Atlanta Braves 2016 Band of the Year. Long-time followers of Summer Brooke and The Mountain Faith Band have witnessed their musical growth and the creation of a “band-voice” that is uniquely their own, all the while remaining true to their roots and their faith. Their musicianship is on par with the most lauded of the latest generation of accomplished pickers—Noam Pikelney, Chris Thile, Chris Eldridge—yet within their own style of tasteful, precise, and melodic maneuvers.
