Tom Rule, a Chattanooga native and UTC alumnus, has released his latest Christmas album digitally at tomrule.info and on Amazon, Google Play, CDBaby, and more.
An online-only concert will broadcast at these links on Youtube and StreetJelly on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Review for It Should Be Called CHRISTmas:
It Should Be Called CHRISTmas ranges through jazz, classical, and funk inspirations on some well-known Christmas tunes, such as a jazz club version of “Go Tell It.” The album features a few originals, including the last song, “It’s Goodnight, Not Goodbye,” which was completed mere weeks before the passing of Tom’s father – a Chattanooga resident for over 50 years - and stands as a testament to the experience.
“The title for it came from my sister,” Mr. Rule said. “When you think of the connection between Christmas and Easter, it makes the title a reality.”
Mr. Rule’s years growing up in Chattanooga helped shape his music style, from performing in the Chattanooga Boys’ Choir to earning his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from UTC in 1982. He taught music at Chattanooga State, worked in the Chattanooga Times/Free-Press composing room, and played at churches such as Brainerd Baptist and Red Bank Baptist before moving to his current city of Macon, Ga.
“My time in Chattanooga introduced me to a slew of new music styles – all of which you can find in CHRISTmas,” Mr. Rule said. “Without Chattanooga, there’s no album.”
The album marks Mr. Rule's fifth album, and second Christmas album. Previous works include a co-production with Joey Stuckey on Stuckey’s MIXTURE album, which debuted at No. 9 on the CMJ jazz charts in 2012 and was the most-added new jazz album upon release.
Christmas music fans can find more, including entries from previous albums and a look behind the scenes, at tomrule.info.
Mr. Rule boasts music credits on over a dozen albums, and continues teaching music and performing. He has been in the Macon, Ga. music scene for 20+ years as a musician, audio engineer, producer, composer, and more, including teaching and performing at Mercer University and Middle Georgia State University.