Catherine Russell
Catherine Russell revisits her father Luis Russell’s 1947 Christmas classic, bringing its timeless message of love, kindness, and togetherness to a new generation through a heartfelt musical tribute.
1. Christmas In Your Heart was originally recorded by your father, Luis Russell, back in 1947. What inspired you to revisit this particular song nearly eight decades later, and what does it mean to you personally to bring his music to a new generation?
I have loved Luis Russell’s music since I was a little girl. I found this song in his archive, and really liked the sentiment of it, along with the melody and harmonic structure. To me, the song is timeless so I was happy to record it and share it so many years later.
2. You recorded this new version on August 5, 2026, which would have been your father’s birthday. Was choosing that date a deliberate tribute, and how did the significance of the occasion influence the atmosphere in the studio?
August 5th is also my wedding anniversary, so this date is extra special! The date was planned, and fortunately all the musicians I wanted to record with were available. We were especially proud to honor Luis Russell’s music on his birthday! There was an atmosphere of love in the recording session and I think this came through in the song.
3. You’ve recently been performing Christmas In Your Heart for enthusiastic audiences. What have those live reactions taught you about the song’s enduring appeal, and how did they influence your decision to record it?
I like to test material I am considering with audiences to see how songs land. This song has gotten a positive response every time I’ve performed it with my band, which helped me decide to record it.
4. The recording features a wonderful ensemble, including guitarist Matt Munisteri, bassist Tal Ronen, drummer Domo Branch, and Ben Rosenblum on piano and accordion. How did you approach the arrangement to preserve the spirit of the original while giving the song your own musical identity?
The identity comes from working with these excellent musicians. When they play I am able to find my voice and tell the story of the song. We all easily understand each other musically, and with Ben Rosenblum’s beautiful string arrangement our interpretation naturally fell into place.
5. The release also includes an instrumental version featuring Ben Rosenblum’s accordion melody and string quartet arrangement. What inspired you to include this second interpretation, and what do you feel it reveals about the composition?
The idea to record this instrumental version came from our co-producer Paul Kahn. A good song can stand up to different treatments, and I’m so happy this song does just that. Ben Rosenblum is a wonderful composer in his own right, so he knows how to tell us the story even though there are no lyrics in that version.
6. The lyrics suggest that Christmas is less about a particular place or season and more about carrying love, kindness, and belonging within ourselves throughout the year. What does that message mean to you today, and what would you most like listeners to take away from this recording?
I love this message because it is simple and non-judgmental. We can open our hearts to see our similarities and respect our differences. I also hope that the music we’ve created reflects these ideas.