On November 22, 2017, Toronto-based singer, lyricist and composer Steven Taetz releases a new EP of Christmas swing and Adult Contemporary material co-written and recorded with leading Canadian jazz artists. The material highlights classic standards as well as newly-written seasonal hits that showcases his writing style, live performance sound, and feature Canadian-created Christmas tunes for anyone wanting to swing with their holiday tunes.

The 4-song EP includes an uptempo big-band-style title track "Cool Yule" made popular first by Louis Armstrong, followed by a dreamy ballad co-written with Montreal's Caracol called "Lovers in the Snow." Another original, "Come Christmas," provides a contrast to every sickly-sweet carol, this one about getting over a broken heart at Christmas, and finally an updated jazz rendition of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" with leading horn player Kevin Turcotte. Upcoming performances to support the EP release see Taetz's quartet headlining at The Distillery's Christmas Market festival's main stage on December 1, 6:30pm; this event reaches capacity in the Distillery District each year, and is a festive place to showcase the material. Other performances as part of this EP launch include an intimate evening at Royal York's Epic Wine Bar (November 23rd, 5:00pm), a special preview for JazzFM.91 at the Jazz Safari in Lula Lounge (November 29, 7:00pm), and culminating in an artist feature concert for TD's Music Fridays at Union Station (December 22, 4:00pm), amongst many other events included on the artist's website.

After early international success in the electronica, roots and blues realms, Steven Taetz returned to classic jazz standards and new swing material in 2014. "I grew up listening and singing traditional pop by Ella Fitgerald and Chet Baker, and I wanted to share my own interpretation of this timeless material, and to create new Canadian swing standards in the vein of Cole Porter or Lorenz Hart." For this latest "Cool Yule" EP, the Alberta-raised, Toronto-based singer, lyricist and composer partnered with producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Drew Jurecka (Jill Barber, Ron Sexsmith, Hogtown Syncopators, Alex Pangman) to bring the EP to life. The album includes the industry's best instrumentalists such as Kevin Turcotte, Nathan Hiltz, Søren Nissen, Ewen Farncombe, Andrew Miller, John MacLeod, and guest vocalist Joanna Majoko amongst others.

Steven Taetz has collaborated with leaders of Canadian jazz, writing and performing with award-winning artist such as Michael Occhipinti, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque, Drew Jurecka, Dawn Tyler Watson, Sonia Johnson, George Koller, Barbra Lica, Taurey Butler, Wendy Lands, June Garber, Caracol, Mark Keiswetter, Dave Restivo, and many others. He has performed in Carnegie Hall, Toronto's Rogers Centre, Montreal's House of Jazz, NYC's Rockwood Music Hall, Hotel Cafe L.A., Blue Room South Korea, The Rex, Jazz Bistro, and many festivals across North America. Upcoming touring includes dates across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and New York for "Cool Yule" as well as an upcoming Spring EP with new material co-written with JUNO-winners Maqueque, John Lennon Songwriting Competition winner Denielle Bassels, and Nathan Hiltz.

"A winner in both your musical writing and performance. You have a wonderful lyrical quality to your voice."

- Joe Melillo (Executive Director of Programming, BAM - Brooklyn Academy of Music)

"Steven Taetz's pure vocals partnered with sensitive original phrasing put him in the league of the great jazz vocalists."

- Tracy Jenkins, Artistic Director - Lula Music & Arts Centre
"The beautiful songwriting and vocal gifts of Steven Taetz present material that could easily become new anthems for Canadians both at home and abroad."
- Janice Price (CEO - The Banff Centre and Founding CEO - Luminato Festival)

All songs produced and engineered by Drew Jurecka.

All songs mixed and mastered by Justin Gray.

Executive Producers Steven Taetz, Clyde Wagner

Recorded at Small Dog Studios, Toronto

1. Cool Yule (Steve Allen)
Description: This classic Christmas swinger made popular by Louis Armstrong now features an exciting newly-written second chorus by Steven Taetz for dazzling guest vocalist Joanna Majoko.
Personnel: Steven Taetz - vocals, Drew Jurecka - saxophones, John Macleod - trumpet, Dan Douglas - trombone, Nathan Hiltz - guitar, Ewen Farncombe - piano, Søren Nissen - bass, Andrew Miller - drums.

2. Lovers in the Snow (Steven Tetz, Carol Facal)
Description: It's easy to get lost in this wintery walk through the woods alongside your Christmas lover; this song was co-written with Montreal's JUNO-nominated Caracol. The entrancing string arrangement by Drew Jurecka captures the image of a winter wonderland perfectly.
Personnel: Steven Taetz - vocals, Drew Jurecka - strings, Nathan Hiltz - guitar, Ewen Farncombe - piano, Søren Nissen - bass, Andrew Miller - drums.

3. Come Christmas (Steven Tetz)
Description: The delicious opposite to every saccharine holiday love song about missing one's love at Christmas, this original song is the scorned lover's celebration of getting over heartbreak. "When the halls are decked, the tree is trimmed, and after me you've pined, Come Christmas, you'll see how much you miss me."
Personnel: Steven Taetz - vocals, Nathan Hiltz - guitar, John Macleod- trumpet, Dan Douglas - trombone, Joe Phillips - bass

4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (Frank Loesser)
Description: Songwriter Frank Loesser was upset this classic tune was tied to the holidays rather than being sung all year. A childhood favourite of Steven's, they add a timeless polish to this perennial standard with Kevin Turcotte featured on flugelhorn.
Personnel: Steven Taetz - vocals, Kevin Turcotte - flugelhorn, Ewen Farncombe - piano, Søren Nissen - bass, Andrew Miller - drums.

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/cool-yule-ep/1317437599
Bandcamp: http://steventaetz.bandcamp.com/album/cool-yule
CDBaby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/steventaetz3

Soundcloud previews: https://soundcloud.com/steventaetz/sets/cool-yule-ep/s-gMhKP