Saxophonist Michael Lington | “A Foreign Affair Christmas”

MICHAEL LINGTONS NEW ALBUM,
A FOREIGN AFFAIR CHRISTMAS,
SET FOR RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 8

Lington Shares Lead-off Track, Last Christmas Ft. Philippe Saisse
Album Also Features Vince Gill, Russ Freeman, Chris Standring,
Dave Koz, Adam Hawley, Sheléa And Rick Braun

As its title suggests, Michael Lingtons A Foreign Affair Christmas takes a romantic, cosmopolitan approach to holiday music. The Copenhagen-born, Los Angeles-based saxophonist-songwriter-producer has toured the globe, performing in over 40 countries so it seemed only natural for him to bring Latin, Jazz, Caribbean, R&B and Danish flavors to Christmas classics that are beloved around the world. Lington is joined by an international A-list of guest artists that includes Philippe Saisse, Vince Gill, Russ Freeman, Chris Standring, Dave Koz, Adam Hawley, Sheléa and Rick Braun. A Foreign Affair Christmas will be released on November 8. See below for track listing.

As the album pre-order launched, Lington shared the lead-off track, Last Christmas featuring French keyboardists/composer Philippe Saisse. Arranged by Lington and Marc Antoine, its a silken, sultry instrumental take on the George Michael-penned classic. Fans who pre-order the album on Amazon will instantly receive “Last Christmas.” Pre-order A Foreign Affair Christmas (Copenhagen Music) HERE.

Christmas is a magical time and the music is a very important soundtrack to it. I think its interesting for listeners to hear their favorite artists in a different light, like Phillipe Saisse playing the vibraphone or Vince Gill singing a Donny Hathaway song, explains Michael Lington.

Gill suggested This Christmas checking off a key track on Lingtons wish list. Once the songs and the contributors were finalized, Lington set out to craft the album around them.

I produced it myself because I had a really clear view of what I wanted to achieve with the music, he says. I put together an amazing session band including Gregg Phillinganes, Alex Al and Eric Valentine, and recorded it all live in the studio to get that magical thing that happens organically when you are doing it together. Then I added colorings with Paul Jackson Jr., Luis Conte and many other amazing musicians. I had the great producer and engineer Paul Brown mix the album and it was mastered by the legendary Bernie Grundman.

Lington who plays alto and tenor saxophone, keyboards and percussion on the recording includes his interpretation of A Child is Born in Bethlehem, a traditional Scandinavian song. Fellow sax great Dave Koz joins him on an exuberant medley of Winter Wonderland and Let it Snow. The track gives fans a glimpse of the feel-good energy fans can expect when the 22nd Annual Dave Koz & Friends Christmas tour comes to town. In addition to Lington, Koz will be joined by Jonathan Butler, Melissa Manchester and Chris Walker.

The run kicks off on November 29 at the Van Wezel in Sarasota, FL and includes shows at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Brookville, NY (December 8) and Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Southern California (December 20 and 21). Tickets are available at https://michaellington.com/tour/. See below for itinerary. Lington can also be heard on Kozs new Christmas album, Gifts of the Season.

A Foreign Affair Christmas follows Lingtons 10th solo release, 2018s Silver Lining, which also included top guest artists, among them soul music legend William Bell and Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. Lingtons journey has taken him a long way since his youth in Denmark, where he first fell in love with jazz, pop, R&B and other forms of music. Now regarded as one of the worlds top contemporary soul and jazz saxophonists, he has charted more than 20 hit singles and performed at some of the worlds most prestigious venues.

Track Listing — A Foreign Affair Christmas

1. Last Christmas featuring Philippe Saisse
2. This Christmas featuring Vince Gill
3. Oh Holy Night featuring Russ Freeman
4. Silver Bells featuring Chris Standring
5. Winter Wonderland / Let It Snow (Medley) featuring Dave Koz
6. A Child Is Born In Bethlehem Featuring Adam Hawley
7. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas featuring Sheléa
8. Silent Night featuring Rick Braun
9. Mary Did You Know

MICHAEL LINGTON TOUR DATES

11/9 Miami, FL @ Miami Smooth Jazz Festival
11/16 Seal Beach, CA @ Spaghettini CD release event with special guests two shows

DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS CHRISTMAS TOUR 2019

Jonathan Butler * Melissa Manchester * Michael Lington
with special guest Chris Walker

Dates subject to change.

11/29 Sarasota, FL @ Van Wezel
11/30 West Palm Beach, FL @ Kravis Center
12/1 Naples, FL @ Hayes Hall
12/2 Melbourne, FL @ King Center
12/3 Clearwater, FL @ Ruth Eckerd Hall
12/5 Jacksonville, FL @ Florida Theatre
12/6 Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Centre
12/7 Newport News, VA @ Ferguson Centre
12/8 Brookville, NY @ Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
12/9 Bethesda, MD @ Strathmore
12/11 Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
12/12 Cleveland, OH @ KeyBank State Theatre
12/13 Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
12/15 Carmel, IN @ Palladium
12/16 El Paso, TX @ Plaza Theatre
12/17 Mesa, AZ @ Ikeda Theatre
12/18 Palm Springs, CA @ McCallum
12/19 El Cajon, CA @ The Magnolia
12/20 Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12/21 Cerritos, CA @ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
12/22 Stockton, CA @ Bob Hope Theatre
12/23 San Jose, CA @ City National Civic