duaneiac

I know, for many folks here, the combination of Wynton Marsalis + Christmas music = . Haters of both will find much to hate here. However, to look on the bright side, this CD does not include a version of "The Little Drummer Boy"! Otherwise, it's the usual gang (Wycliffe Gordon, Victor Goines, Wessell Anderson, Herlin Riley, etc.) going through the usual motions.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions. I looked forward to this performance every year. It's cool to watch how the production grew over the years. The 1998 version (at around the 30 minute mark) had Cissy Houston, Phoebe Snow and Roberta Flack as backup singers!

And when a Canadian tells you it's cold outside . . .

The CD reissue with 6 bonus tracks.

Disc 1 & 2 of 2.

This disc includes a new holiday song, "Kingly Gifts", co-written by Mr. Costa's longtime employer, Mr. Fred Rogers. Listening to this disc, I was half expecting Mr. McFeely to show up at the door with an armful of Christmas cards.

One of the finest jazz Christmas compilations ever made. So many great musicians and, for the most part, really swinging performances. Here you have Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Johnny Otis, Victoria Spivey, Fats Waller, Woody Herman, Count Basie with Jimmy "Santy Claus, Santy Claus, Listen to my plea" Rushing. The original LP had 15 tracks and ends with a recording of Jack Teagarden (who sounds like he was perhaps extra full of "good cheer" at this session) singing "The Christmas Song". Just beautiful -- it is a performance which is the very musical depiction of "good will to all". The CD has 23 tracks, dropping some from the original LP (although why they kept Al Bowlly singing "Every Day's a Holiday" baffles me) and adding others. The CD, fittingly enough, begins and ends with Louis Armstrong -- first as member of Clarence Williams' Trio (huh -- that's how it's listed on the LP, but on the CD it is credited as Clarence Williams' Blue Five, which is more credible) performing this compilation's namesake song and finally his 1971 recording of the poem, "The Night Before Christmas", a recording guaranteed to put a great big smile on my face and some tears in my eyes every time I hear it.

I'm not sure what the consensus is among jimmy Smith fans, but I really like this album. It's a Creed Taylor production, so there are big band sides along with three trio tracks. This CD reissue adds 2 bonus tracks: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Wes Montgomery and "Greensleeves" with Kenny Burrell. It's all very festive and swinging music. Now playing: Any one who is a fan of post-swing era big bands would be well advised to pick up any CD you may find from any of the US military service bands. I've never been disappointed by any of the ones I have listened to. They all have some creative arrangements and many excellent musicians. On this disc, they even manage a listenable version of "Little Drummer Boy". I cannot help but mention that the band manager is listed as CMSgt Dudley Hinote, who ironically, plays bass trombone.

One of the most enjoyable Christmas albums around, not just for their unique interpretations of standards ( such as their "O, Christmas Tree" samba), but also for their fun originals like "Christmas in July" ("Oh we'll spend Yuletide / Down by the poolside") and the oughta-be-a-classic "Santa's Polka" ("Hop step step to the left, hop step step to the right / A Merry Christmas to you all and to you all good night") Ya gotta love a band that can whip up this kind of Christmas frenzy at an Oktoberfest celebration:

In the liner notes, there is a photo of a Chiaroscuro Records EP CR-1975 A/B. The A side has two Christmas tunes by Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims ("Good King Wenceslaus" & "White Christmas"). The B side has three tunes by Earl Hines ("The Christmas Song", "Jingle Bells" and "White Christmas"). Of these, only Earl Hines' performance of "White Christmas" is included on this disc. Would any one here know where to find/hear those other tracks? Have they ever been reissued outside of that original EP? I would love to hear all of them. I am among that likely very small sliver on the Venn Diagram of people who Earl Hines, Christmas songs and yet Christmas.

A couple of fun holiday favorites: Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Leon Redbone, although this will be the first Christmas without Leon Redbone, may he Rest In Peace. Dan Hicks is now as important a part of Christmas for me as Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole or Stan Freberg.