Fun songs heard on Surowiec's 'Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas'
CD REVIEW
by RISA WASIK Assistant Copy Editor

Matt Surowiec and the Tricentennial Band's "Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas," a holiday CD resurrecting the songs from Jim Henson's Christmas special from 1977, brought a lot of attention from my coworkers as it lay on my desk waiting for review.

Having grown up in Newfane, I did not have cable until the early '90s (no joke) and was unfamiliar with the Henson Christmas special that only played on HBO every year around the holiday season. But the excitement and enthusiasm the mere sight of the CD elicited from those around me psyched me up to listen to the album, a first recording for many of the songs from the holiday c lassic.

I wasn't disappointed.

Although the album is labeled "Christmas," the songs, written by Paul Williams and performed by WNYers Matt Surowiec and the Tricentennial Band, are not what you would expect. Titles include "Bathing Suit," "Ain't No Hole in the Washtub," "BarBQ" and others. (Surowiec has licensed "BarBQ" for this year's Buffalo Musicians Against Autism charity CD). There is no mention of Santa or flying reindeer typical of so many of the songs that flood our airwaves during the holiday season.

Some may argue that there is no mention of Christ either, the true reason for the season. On the contrary. Those familiar with the story of Emmett Otter and his plight to provide the perfect Christmas present for his mother will see the parallels with the gifts of the Magi. The message is there, it is just not in your face and you might have to work for this one a little.

And for those of you who can't get enough of Jim Henson's classic Muppet tunes, but have heard "The Twelve Days of Christmas" one too many times already, you won't be disappointed either.

The songs are fun and catchy, typical of most Muppet tunes. Surowiec does a great job arranging and recording the songs, keeping them in true "Muppet form." I was pleased to find that Surowiec kept the songs as they were originally meant to sound and didn't try to update them for today's generation. Even if you are new to Emmett Otter, like myself, you will appreciate what Surowiec has done with this recording.

The CD is nostalgic and will hopefully bring listeners back to their own childhood, as it has done for some here at The Bee.

The soundtrack is available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, CDBaby.com and on iTunes.

Surowiec, who debuted the "EmmettOtter's Jug Band Christmas" live show seven years ago, has found great success in his renditions. This year he has scheduled five performances throughout WesternNew York: 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 and Dec. 1 at Borders Books in Orchard Park; 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at St. Leo the Great Church in Amherst; 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Herschell Carrousel Museum in North Tonawanda; and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Audubon Library in Amherst.

Additional performances are yet to be announced. For more information, visit www.mattsmusic forkids. com.