Good King Wenceslas by Herriott and Harkness
H2 is a musical collaboration between multi-talented flugelhorn and trumpet player Mike Herriott—who spent his formative years in St. John’s—and guitarist Sean Harkness. In 2011, the duo released Home for the Holidays, a jazzy, understated take on classic Christmas songs that trades the usual seasonal tropes for warmth, space, and style.
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They take melodies everyone knows by heart and quietly reshape them, keeping the spirit intact while giving the music room to breathe. Nothing here feels overdone — they are relaxed and confident renditions that lets the songs speak for themselves.
It’s sophisticated holiday music that fits just as comfortably with a quiet cup of tea as it does with a glass of something stronger.
I’ve been enjoying the album front to back, but if you want a quick entry point, start with “Good King Wenceslas.” That’s where their approach really shines.
You can find Home for the Holidays wherever you get your music.
