Singing for the troops

Valley Life editor

Christmas is a time for giving, and for Hilary Gardner, that meant giving to the entire U.S. Army.

Gardner, a 1995 Colony High School graduate, is a successful jazz vocalist living in New York City. She pulled on her network of friends to record a jazzy Christmas CD, called "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but it wasn't with the idea of making money -- the CDs are being sent to the Middle East with troops that won't be home for the holidays.

"It's sort of a humble offering, but it has a bigger meaning," Gardner said from New York City last week. "It was definitely recorded with a bigger meaning in mind."

After pitching her idea to her dad, Dale, Gardner started in on the project in the fall. Everything came together perfectly, and in two days, the CD was recorded, mixed and mastered. It is one of the most professional-sounding Christmas CDs a listener will hear this holiday season.

"I started thinking about doing it after Nicholas Berg was beheaded over there, and things started getting really scary in Iraq," Gardner said. "The last time we were at war, I was like 12, and 22-year-olds seemed like adults. Now, I'm well past 22, and I realize they are kids, kids who are getting shot."

Gardner warns that the CD is not a political endeavor whatsoever -- it's simply an offering for the troops, nothing more, nothing less.

"The cool thing about it has been that New York is a strong, well, 'Blue' state, but everyone agrees that we need to support the troops, no matter what your political thoughts are," Gardner said. "This is a very nonpolitical way of telling them we are thinking about them."

The war in Iraq could become a very personal one for Gardner. Her brother, Gabe, is stationed in Korea with the U.S. Army, and he could be sent to Iraq in the future.

"Gabe is over in Korea and could be going to Iraq, and I'm coming home to Alaska for a traditional family Christmas," Gardner said. "He's going to be so far away for holidays, like all the troops are. Jazz and singing is what I do, so it's the only way I can help."

Copies of the CD are being sold to the public for $15, and all the money raised goes to make sure deploying troops get a copy. Already, divisions deploying from Fort Drumm in Georgia have copies of the CD to take with them to Iraq.

Recently, Gardner received what she says is one of the best compliments about the project. It didn't come from a critic who loved the music, or from a fan who enjoyed the tunes. It came from a veteran of the Iraq war who had never even heard Gardner sing before.

"They had a reception for some of the wounded troops who were coming home, and I took some of the CDs up there and I was able to put them in their hands. It was very profound for me. They thanked me heartily. It was both very humbling and very gratifying for me," Gardner said. "One Marine who was coming home thanked me and told me that they crave this kind of normalcy. That meant a lot to me. I certainly like to think that it will provide a taste of home to the troops who are deployed."

CDs are available locally through her father, Dale. They cost $15 and can be ordered by e-mailing him at moneymgt@mtaonline.net. With each CD purchased, 15 more can be sent to troops overseas.

On Dec. 23, Gardner is returning to Alaska for a benefit concert at Evangelo's. She is bringing several top jazz musicians from New York City, as well as Seattle, for the performance.

The show will feature Christmas arrangements from the CD, as well as Gardner's jazz interpretations. The performance is scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tickets are $25, and are also available by e-mailing moneymgt@mtaonline.net.