SEQUIM — After a two-year odyssey, singer Julieanne Marie of Sequim is releasing her CD “Fireside Christmas Classics: The Complete Collection” with a gathering this Saturday.
Live music, refreshments and prize drawings will be part of the event from 7 p.m. till 9 p.m. at the Joyful Noise Music Center, 112 W. Washington St. Admission is free, while copies of “Fireside Christmas Classics” will be available for $15.
Marie, who is the daughter of Sherry and Steve Fry of Sequim, began this project in 2011 when she produced an EP — or experimental project — of Christmas songs. She had just 200 copies pressed and was delighted to see them sell out within a couple of weeks.
She returned to the studio early this year to work on a full-length album with Jeremy Cays of Cays Productions in Sequim and chose a diverse mix of music.
“Some of your favorite Christmas songs like ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘It Came Upon a Midnight Clear’ have new arrangements and additions that give these songs a fresh sound,” Marie said.
“We also had the privilege of including a song arranged by James Taylor and sung by Jeremy’s niece, Emily Funston, titled ‘Some Children See Him.’
Instrumental
“The final track is an instrumental arrangement by Brenda Williamson of ‘Come Thou Long Expected Jesus/Be Thou My Vision.’”
The 13 songs on “Fireside” feature a wide range of local musicians: Jeremy and Anna Cays, Dillan Witherow, Soren Olsen, Jason Taylor, Sam Yadon and Kristi Niclas.
In addition to the Joyful Noise Music Center, “Fireside Christmas Classics” will be available at Hurricane Coffee Co., 104 W. Washington St. in Sequim; Strait Music, 1015 E. First St. in Port Angeles; and at www.iTunes.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
