Mads Tolling: A Cool Yule

Tolling went on to release a series of acclaimed albums as a leader, while also pursuing projects like the collective SF String Trio with guitarist Mimi Fox and bassist Jeff Denson. In recent years he’s spent a good deal of time on the road with the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros.

Throughout all the different projects he’s kept his Danish heritage in sight, and his Nordic Holiday Celebration is a jazz-charged sojourn into the sweetest part of childhood. With arrangements of traditional Yuletide standards from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland, he captures the mysticism, customs and sounds of the Nordic countries along with the joy and soul of American jazz. Cool Yule includes a nod to Denmark’s most famous fairytale author Hans Christian Andersen with a medley of songs from Frozen and other fables.