What is Crafty Christmas? you may ask. Inspired by his sister's tradition of gathering with friends to make hand-crafted Christmas presents, the New York trumpeter, in the same spirit, created this recording as a gift to his parents. Properly unassuming and sweetly swinging, his quartet covers the familiar hymns and songs of the season, and is joined by vocalist Kevin-Anthony for season-perfect renditions of "The Christmas Song," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Eklund's original, "Two as One," written for his sister's wedding, creates a very appropriate coda to a project that will hopefully inspire many others' Crafty Christmases! "... playing with determination and inventiveness... Eklund hammers home his credentials as a player emphatically." - All About Jazz