Luna gets into holiday spirit.

Byline: Fred Crafts The Register-Guard

Christmas carols will get a thorough makeover when jazz bassist David Friesen takes them in hand at Luna on Tuesday.

Friesen fronts a combo fleshed out by pianist Jeannie Hoffman, guitarist Jerry Hahn and drummer Gary Hobbs. Between them, they have played with most of the big names in jazz.

But the focus of this gig will be Christmas music, most of it traditional, some of it original, all of it contained on the group's new CD, "The Spirit of Christmas."

The CD's seasonal theme may seem an unlikely subject for these distinguished players, but holiday music has been given a jazz twist since about the day the genre was born.

The foursome has performed together, in one configuration or another, for more than three decades. Friesen and Hoffman met when she moved to Portland in 1973.

"From the very first," Hoffman said in a news release, "it was magic - a real understanding between David and me. We just listen to each other all of the time, while others might listen partially and then jump in when it's their turn."

Over the years, Friesen has played with the likes of Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson, Philly Joe Jones and Clark Terry. Christmas music has been a passion of his.

"Christmas is a time of year of warmth and gratitude," Friesen said. `It's best expressed in music as people relate to Christmas songs at this time.'

Guitarist Hahn and Friesen began working together about 30 years ago. Drummer Hobbs, whose tenure with Friesen dates back to the 1980s, is a former drummer for the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

The quartet's Christmas concert will start at 7 p.m. at Luna, 30 E. Broadway. The cover is $12 ($6 for students). For more information, call 434-5862.

Tingstad & Rumbel

Sunday

Newport Performing Arts Center

Grammy Award-winning artists Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel will perform their gentle New Age music at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Newport Performing Arts Center, 777 W. Olive St., Newport.

Better known as Tingstad & Rumbel, the duo won a Grammy Award in the New Age category in 2002 for its album, "Acoustic Garden." Altogether, they have recorded 13 albums during their 18-year career.

Tickets, ranging from $20 to $35, are available through the center's box office, [phone].