Personnel
Dean Magraw: acoustic guitar
Serge Akou: electric bass
Larry McCabe: trombone, euphonium, keyboards, arranger
Mixed by John Croarkin
About the tune
I once read that “Greensleeves” is considered the number-one earworm of all time—and since I read it on the internet, it must be true. The tune is believed to date back to around 1580 in Elizabethan England, though its melodic roots trace to an Italian form known as romanesca. One can imagine an Italian troubadour wandering north, sharing a melody that would eventually settle into the English musical landscape.

Centuries later, in 1865, William Chatterton Dix wrote a poem titled The Manger Throne. In 1871, those words were set to the Greensleeves melody, and the result became the enduring Christmas carol What Child Is This—a piece beloved for its simplicity and emotional resonance.

I’ve always found the melody captivating, and for this album I decided to offer two different interpretations. This arrangement leans toward the traditional, aiming to highlight the quiet beauty and timelessness of the tune.

My sincere thanks to Dean Magraw and Serge Akou for their contributions, artistry, and musical sensitivity.