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NORMAN DARWEN’S CHRISTMAS INTERVIEW(S)

For many, many years, BiTS has benefited from the sterling work and phenomenal
knowledge of Norman Darwen, a master reviewer with a wonderful ear. Norman’s
Christmas interviews have become something of a tradition and 2022 will not spoil that.
Here are Norman’s interviews for this year.

Mercedes Nicole (www.mercedesnicolejazz.com) came to the
notice of a lot of people in 2022 with the release of her
excellent jazz/ blues CD “Constellation”. She told me, “As a
child I listened to Dinah Washington because she was my
mother’s favourite. All my inspiration comes from the great
singers: Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee, Big Maybelle,
and Bobby “Blue” Bland. My father loved B.B. King, and they
both loved Soul. My foundation of course is the Baptist Church.
You can hear it… ‘cause it’s been many a night I’ve had to call
on Jesus!”

So of course, Mercedes is more than happy to do the BiTS Christmas interview:

Was Christmas an important part of the blues/ soul/ jazz scene in your local area when you were
growing up?

Yes. As a child I remember how much my parents loved bluesy Christmas Songs! They were the
only Christmas songs in our house. Mama would play ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ by
Charles Brown at least a hundred times. She’d be cooking collard greens, cornbread, dressing,
Baked Ham, a 40 lb Turkey, Candied Yams, Macaroni and Cheese, and Sweet Potato Pie all the
while singing the Blues. Daddy would pour some Scotch and play ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ and
‘Merry Christmas Baby’! In fact I loved that song so much, I recorded it in 2020. You can
download & listen here:

https://www.reverbnation.com/mercedesnicole/song/31315519-merry-christmas-baby

Please Come Home For Christmas:

https://www.reverbnation.com/mercedesnicole/song/30271360-please-come-home-for-
christmas

Do you add any extra songs to your set list for Christmas?

I do an entire Christmas show, and I especially like to sing the ones I wrote myself, ‘Golden Gate
Get Away’, ‘Read My Christmas List’. My favourite traditional songs are ‘The Christmas Song’
by Nat King Cole, ‘Santa Baby’ by Eartha Kitt, and all the favourite gospel carols like ‘Go Tell It