29 pictures of 12 musicians

What exactly is the 12 Musicians of Christmas, you ask?

Well, it goes like this.

12 of the Sault's most talented local musicians gather at Loplops Gallery-Lounge to show us what they're made of.

Each musician is given a three-song time slot.

This was the second year in what is sure to become a venerable local tradition, featuring Ed Young, Jay Case, Frank Deresti, Catherine Taddo, Craig West, Cliff Alloy, Patti Goodwin, Rachelle Deresti, Lindsay Pugh, Sheldon Jaaskelainen, Mark Kuntsi and Al Wood.

Frank was accompanied by Jay, Cliff and others.

Patti was accompanied by Frank, Jay and others.

Al was accompanied by Lindsay, Rachelle and others.

And so on.

You get the idea.

It's a huge collaborative effort requiring a ton of skill, timing and patience to pull off.

The evening ran seamlessly - an incredible feat considering not only the number of musicians involved but the amount of gear jammed on stage.

In fact, they got a bit ahead of schedule, prompting Mark Kunsti to sneak in an extra song.

There were many highlights including the Rachelle Deresti Ensemble's performance of Dave Brubeck's extremely complex Blue Rondo a la Turk.

Then there was the Mark Kuntsi Ensemble's version of Silver Water, a Lindsay Pugh original.

"One of the best songs ever written at one of the lamest parties ever," as Kuntsi put it.

And let's not forget the two drummers, one snare drum spectacle that Cliff Alloy and Ed Young presnted to the loud, proud and sold-out crowd at Loplops.

By the way, Mr. Alloy was hands down, without a doubt the sharpest-dressed man in the room.

Craig West put it best when he said, "If this evening was recorded and sent to other communities, they would s*** because of the amount of talent here."

Well said, sir.