Miss Freddye Shines on “Hey Santa Claus”

Just in time for the holiday season, “Lady of the Blues” extraordinaire Miss Freddye releases the upbeat jam; Hey Santa Claus. From the compilation album, A Very Yinzer Christmas this blues shuffle features a straight 12 bar with a call-and-response style vocals that highlight the entire band’s performance while accentuating the mezzo soprano lead vocals. With a repeated chorus section that really vibes on the main theme, Hey Santa Claus gets the party started and continues momentum throughout the track while leading up the rest of the blues jams throughout the A Very Yinzer Christmas other 25 Christmas tunes. Pay special attention to the subtle yet highly effective guitar licks that highlight each phrase. These add to the overall groove which the backline keeps deep in the pocket while the keys are able to completely let loose and contrast the vocals bringing that call-and-response style to the forefront. The effective manner in which the band is able to play off each other both melodically and harmonically brings texture to this song while maintaining the overall happy and joyful presence that turns the blues into a happy Christmas number. By maintaining a familiar blues structure we get an intimate feel while absorbing a wonderful message.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a Yinzer is a local Pittsburgh term referring to a typical blue collar local that speaks in the local Pittsburgh tongue. By compiling these voices into one release we are given a true taste of the local scene in and around the holiday season. With Miss Freddye’s performance we are pulled deeply into the local blues community and given a hearty dose of hospitality and comfort. Hey Santa Clausdelivers a solid performance with a beautifully executed production. The live feel from this release gives the audience a taste of what to expect seeing Miss Freddye directly. The micing techniques employed however allow the recording to capture all the small pieces which make up the whole band, with each back-up singer having their voice heard and each instrument granted a frequency range to explore their themes around this steady groove. Hey Santa Claus is a great track, highly enjoyable for the season, and great for any holiday party, concert or even a favorite playlist to keep you in the giving mood. The sense of community which has been referred to already really comes out with this track as it sits nicely within this compilation of local artists, giving us the true feeling of what these holidays are really meant to be about.