“This relatively unknown piano trio from Cary, North Carolina has made a solid self-produced album of holiday favorites. With Grant Osborne on piano, Peter Innocenti on bass and Jeff Crouse on drums, this understated trio deftly performs a cross-section of tunes familiar and less so. Singer Jeanne Jolly (what a great name for an appearance on a holiday music album!) joins in on two songs, also in understated fashion. The group came together after meeting at their local church for late night sessions and the music sounds like something that would be acceptable at a Jazz Vespers service. Not that it’s particularly spiritual in theme and tone. After all, they open the album with a lyrical version of “The Chipmunk Song,” and also take on modern classics like “White Christmas” and “Christmas Time is Here,” done here even slower than usual. Elsewhere the focus is indeed on carols and the lyrical quality of the trio fits those like a glove. After an upbeat “Auld Lang Syne” with a New Orleans second line backbeat, the trio closes the album with a Pat Metheny song “Always and Forever,” dedicating it to their wives and families. All in all, a restful and enjoyable piano trio album.” - Lee Mergner
“On Little Town: Carols For Christmas, the North Carolina based trio of pianist Grant Osborne, bassist Peter Innocenti and drummer Jeff Crouse combines exhilaration, refreshing authenticity, good swinging musicianship and an aura of charm and charity to a program that thankfully doesn't bulk up on over-familiar Xmas songs. Oh sure, 'White Christmas' and 'Silver Bells,' like favorite ornaments decorating the tree each year, are present, but so are unexpected delights 'I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day,' 'Home' and the perfectly acceptable Amy Grant title tune. On the latter two, guest Jeanne Jolly sings confidently.” - Frank-John Hadley
— Downbeat Magazine
“Jazz musician Jeffrey Crouse (music '99) has come a long way since his first paying gig at Champs Sports Bar in downtown Blacksburg. Crouse, a freelance jazz percussionist who works primarily in and around Raleigh, N.C., teamed up with fellow freelance musicians Grant Osborne and Peter Innocenti to produce "Little Town: Carols for Christmas," a collection of popular and lesser-known Christmas songs played in such jazz styles as swing, waltz, and bossa nova. Crouse gives much of the credit for his musical success to his time at Virginia Tech. "My four years at Virginia Tech were the most important of my life," he said. "Virginia Tech provided an environment for personal growth, as well as an excellent education." The CD was released in November 2009.”