Award-winning vocalist Leslie Odom Jr. has announced that he'll be releasing a new deluxe edition of his critically acclaimed "Simply Christmas" album on October 27, 2017 on S-Curve Records. The stunning album of reinterpreted holiday classics debuted at #1 on the Soundscan and Billboard Jazz charts last year. This deluxe addition will feature four new songs including, "Please Come Home For Christmas," "Edelweiss" arranged by Grammy nominee Michael McElroy and featuring Odom Jr.'s wife of 5 years, an accomplished performer in her own right, Nicolette Robinson, and "The Christmas Waltz" featuring a brand new arrangement by Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated arranger Rob Mathes. Full track listing below. "Simply Christmas" showcases Odom Jr.'s soulful jazz versions of Christmas classics and follows his successful self-titled jazz debut.
Said Leslie Odom Jr., "One of the things I was looking forward to most while recording the album was performing the tunes live. These classics are dear to me, we'd worked so hard on the project, and I couldn't wait to share. Things worked out differently than I imagined. I was on a plane for London almost immediately after the record was released for the start of the Murder On The Orient Express shoot. One year later and we have the upcoming release of the film and a slightly less hectic calendar. We added some of our favorites that we couldn't include the first time around and once again I am really looking forward to celebrating the holidays performing these classic tunes next to people I care about very much."
Odom Jr. spent his summer performing to sold out audiences around the country including appearances at Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, The Ravinia Festival, and with the Boston Pops. Up next, he will be performing on the lawn at The Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, IA. Odom Jr. will also be a part of Live From Lincoln Center, a new series that will present four leading voices of musical theater. The performances will be filmed in front of audiences at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center this December, and air on PBS nationwide in 2018. This fall, Odom Jr. will be starring in Murder On The Orient Express alongside Johnny Depp, Judi Dench, and more. The film is in theaters on November 10, 2017.
Odom Jr.'s self-titled debut jazz album on S-Curve Records won over critics and fans upon release last year, and debuted at #1 on Soundscan Current and Traditional Jazz Charts. He completed his run as the original Aaron Burr in the smash hit Hamilton last summer, a role that won him a Tony & Grammy Award. On the small screen, Odom, Jr. is best-known for his portrayal of 'Sam Strickland' in the NBC musical series, "Smash," and his recurring role as 'Reverend Curtis Scott' on "Law & Order: SVU." He's also appeared in episodes of "Gotham," "Person of Interest," "Grey's Anatomy," "House of Lies," "Vanished" and "CSI: Miami." On the big screen, he starred in the 2012 film, "Red Tails," opposite Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr. and David Oyelowo.
