Ball of Wax 58 Songs: James Whetzel – “God Rest Ye Funky Bhangra (Sarod & Beats)”

It wouldn’t really be a holiday compilation without a new spin on a traditional classic, and we’ve got a couple gems along those lines. First up, our pal James Whetzel has cooked up this wondrous bit of intercontinental Christmas magic. The title “God Rest Ye Funky Bhangra (Sarod & Beats)” tells you pretty much everything you need to know about this song – and you might even read that title and say “Not for me, thanks” – but you still need to hear it. James (on aforementioned sarod and beats) and Shree Dee (bringing more percussive power on dhol) have created a piece that is more than the sum of its parts. It’s more than a fun spin on a Christmas classic; it’s an adventurous, satisfying, head-bobbing piece of music that is guaranteed to make your holiday parties at least 50% cooler – and that would still be a pleasant surprise if you heard it in July.