Contemporary flute-playing soul-jazz phenomenon Ragan Whiteside releases her rendition of the holiday classic, “The Little Drummer Boy,” which will be on all digital and streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and Pandora on Friday, November 17, 2023. In addition, her re-issue of “This Christmas,” is also available.
Whiteside’s version of “The Little Drummer Boy” is nothing like you ever heard before. It’s an upbeat funky and soulful take on the holiday classic. “I wanted to record a holiday song that I wouldn’t mind listening to throughout the year,” she says. “You can’t go wrong with ‘60s soul.”
Produced by hitmaker Dennis Johnson, with additional production by Bob Baldwin, “The Little Drummer Boy” features Whiteside on flute, Johnson on keyboards, Baldwin on additional keyboards, Rich “RAH” Harrison on drums, Phil Hamilton on guitar, Marculus Robinson, Jr. on tenor saxophone, and Jamel Mitchell on baritone and tenor saxophone, who also tours and records with Kem and The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra.
Whiteside’s first-holiday single, “This Christmas” is a warm and witty version of the perennial seasonal classic, originally penned and performed by the late Donny Hathaway, and is one of her all-time favorite holiday songs.”
The classically trained flutist and top Billboard recording artist continues to make waves on the radio charts with her current album project, Thrill Ride, which lives up to its title, demonstrating Whiteside’s breathtaking virtuosity and her streak of No. 1 and Top 5 singles that landed on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts. Additionally, her top-rated weekly radio show, “Saturday with Ragan Whiteside” leads on the NPR-affiliated station, Jazz 91.9 WCLK in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information on Ragan Whiteside, go to www.raganwhiteside.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
ABOUT RANDIS MUSIC
Founded in 2007, Randis Music is a record company formed by contemporary jazz flutist/vocalist Ragan Whiteside and producer/engineer Dennis Johnson. While creating and producing music on their own in a dramatically changed digital music world, Whiteside and Johnson felt a need to combine their musical prowess with their professional business savvy to create a unique sound and approach to get their brand of music heard. Constantly pushing the musical envelope and thinking outside of the box, Randis Music continues to break from the norm while gaining the respect of even the most critical listening audience.
