'" Composition and collaborations Ī sample of India.Arie rendition of "Let It Snow", featuring Joe Sample on the piano. Brandy had approached Arie when the album was nearly complete and said: "It ain't done until I'm on there! I need to be on 'Silent Night. Describing the process she used to pair songs with potential collaborators, Arie said: "I sent several songs to each person and said 'do what you feel '". The artists who appear on the album are Kem, Brandy, Michael McDonald, Dave Koz, Tori Kelly, and Trombone Shorty. įollowing Sample's death, Arie put work on Christmas with Friends on hold for a year, after which she decided to contact multiple singers to complete the project. When discussing her experience working with Sample in Houston, Arie said: "He was an older person who was dealing with health issues, but he was fun to be around." She dedicated Christmas with Friends to Sample with a message on the liner notes.
Sample died from mesothelioma in September 12, 2014, before completing his parts for the album. Arie was one of the album's executive producers with American pianist John Burke and American musician Dave Koz. in Maryland, and Wire Roads Studio in Texas. Recording took place in a number of studios, including Harmony Studios, House of Blues Studios, Ocean Way Recording, and Sound Logic Recording Studio in California, India Song Studio in Georgia, Studio A Recording Inc. The album peaked at number 107 on the Billboard 200.Ĭhristmas with Friends was the final album Joe Sample ( pictured in 2008) worked on before his death in 2014.Īrie and Sample began working on Christmas with Friends in February 2014, with help from American producer Aaron Lindsey.
The album appeared on several Billboard charts. Christmas with Friends received a generally mixed critical reception.
Following the album's release, Arie promoted it in various venues, particularly through her Christmas with Friends Tour (2015). After placing the project on hold for a year, Arie decided to collaborate with other artists to complete it.Ĭhristmas with Friends consists of ten tracks, including nine covers of Christmas standards and carols, and one original song co-written by Arie's mother. Sample contributed to four of the songs, but died from mesothelioma before the album's completion. Arie worked as one of the album's executive producers with American pianist John Burke and American musician Dave Koz. It was released on October 16, 2015, through Motown and Soulbird Music. Christmas with Friends is a collaborative Christmas album by American singer India.Arie and American pianist Joe Sample.