For many, they have become as much a part of Christmas as cookies or the Christmas tree: Nils Landgren's Christmas albums. 17 years ago, the trombonist, singer and fixed star of the European jazz scene gathered his closest companions for the first time to get in the mood for Christmas with them on a tour of churches in Sweden and Germany. The result was "Christmas With My Friends," the "most beautiful Christmas CD ever," as one critic wrote. Since then, Landgren and his friends have repeated this special way of celebrating Christmas every two years. And so it is now again: "Christmas With My Friends VIII" is ready for the gift table. It is the richness of colors that makes these albums so special and unique. Each musician contributes his own individual touch. Landgren his unrivaled variable and velvety trombone, Jonas Knutsson his lyrical saxophone playing, Johan Norberg his folky guitar tone; as a new sound this time the sonorous bass of Clas Lassbo is added, who is with the band for the first time. Above all, however, it is the voices that each give the pieces their special character and together complement each other perfectly: the classical vocals of Jeanette Köhn, the bittersweet soul of Ida Sands, the radiant clarity of Jessica Pilnäs, the powerful blues of Sharon Dyall and, last but not least, the bright white soul of Nils Landgren himself. Just as colorful has always been the repertoire selected by Landgren and more and more often by his friends, sometimes downright "researched". It ranges from classical Christmas carols to Christmas songs from pop and jazz, from songs played worldwide to songs played only in their countries of origin, from evergreens to rarities. This time, Landgren and his friends took die-sen richness of color quite literally. "My Christmas is orange," Landgren says, explaining, "I wasn't keen on presents as a kid. I was more interested in the food that was available at that time of year and made up my Christmas: my mother Margareta brought a big bag of fresh oranges. I still remember when I peeled the first orange and then enjoyed the smell and the wonderful taste. That's why the cover of 'Christmas With My Friends VIII' now glows all orange." And so, as a listener, you can associate the album's tracks with colors, depending on your preference. For instance, who wouldn't think of green when hearing " O Tannenbaum," especially when it's played in the New Orleans Mardi Gras style as it is here. Or with the hymnal " In Dulce Jubilo" swirling around the classical singing not of gold. Everyone can imagine his own color with the floating " Lully, Lalla, Lullay", the folky " Soon After Christmas" or the jazzy-emotional " It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year". Just like Johan Norberg does in his compositional contribution " That's How I Picture Christmas Eve". Of course, the color of jazz cannot be missing: "When we had recorded everything, Ida Sand said: 'What about Blue Christmas?'", Landgren tells. And so the album starts with the wonderfully rolling blues of the same name by Bill Hayes and Jay Johnson, once made famous by Elvis Presley. So many colors are represented, and some more will surely be added on the German tour in December. All that remains is to wish: Merry, colorful Christmas!