Dan Damon Celebrates Christmas With New Album ‘I Saw Three Ships’

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif:
On the heels of Christmas staple No Obvious Angels, internationally renowned songwriter Dan Damon has released his new album I Saw Three Ships. A quintessential jazz holiday record filled with seasonal favourites, I Saw Three Ships is guaranteed to become a go-to soundtrack as families flock to the table on Christmas Day.

“For 25 years we packed Richmond First United Methodist Church in Point Richmond, CA. USA on Christmas Eve for the jazz service,” says Damon. “The congregation sang carols with my jazz quartet. This recording includes the best of those arrangements plus some newer carols.”

Opening with a stunning rendition of “Away in a Manager,” sung by award-winning vocalist Sheilani Alix, other highlights include the saxophone-rich “O Little Town of Bethlehem” with instrumentation by the Dan Damon Quartet.

“I grew up playing 19th century gospel songs in church,” says Damon. “My sound now includes the rich harmonies of jazz, but you can still hear the simple country gospel in my playing. In the studio it felt electric as we recorded thirteen songs in five hours, usually needing just one take.”

Listening to I Saw Three Ships is akin to sitting by a crackling fire—it will transport you to the heart of the holiday season.

Damon’s former works have been featured on Art & Theology’s November 2024 Playlist and UTR’s Christmas Songs of Faith 2023, ramping up the expectations for this new Christmas classic.
Capturing the sacred nature of Christ’s birth and the fun of the season, I Saw Three Ships is released on November 15. Hymn arrangements of the carols and lead sheets are available at hopepublishing.com. It is going for pre-saves on all streaming platforms.

Capturing the sacred nature of Christ’s birth and the fun of the season, I Saw Three Ships is released on November 15. Hymn arrangements of the carols and lead sheets are available at hopepublishing.com. It is going for pre-saves on all streaming platforms.