Hidden Cristmas tunes

[scottb]

I happen to grab Booker Ervin STRUCTURALLY SOUND to listen to and appropriately enough there is a version of "White Christmas" on it. Any other Christmas tunes tucked away on non Christmas albums. I would like to make a jazz Christmas compilation and wonder if my collection is hiding any others. (My collection is heavy with Blue Note and light on Verve, Columbia and Prestige.)

I know about Jimmy Smith's "Baby Its Cold Outside" and "Greensleeves"

Also...

Is "My Favorite Things" considered a Christmas song? I've heard it several times this season in that setting. I know THE SOUND OF MUSIC takes place around Christmas time but I never thought of this one as a Christmas tune. On the other hand, it kinda sounds Christmasy in a way.

Edited December 13, 2004 by scottb

[Brandon Burke]

"Greensleeves" isn't technically a Christmas song either but....

[John L]

Bird played a great version of White Christmas at the Royal Roost in 1949.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Clusone 3 does up "White Christmas" on 'Soft Lights, Sweet Music' and usually suits my mood best with their interpretation!

[mgraham333]

How about:

Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep from Sonny Rollins Plus Four?

(Irving Berlin) Bing Crosby

from the 1954 movie "White Christmas".

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

[ghost of miles]

Funny--I was just listening to Booker's "White Christmas." I'm going to use it to kick off this week's Night Lights.

Another Sonny Rollins tune on a non-Christmas album is "Winter Wonderland," off THE ALTERNATIVE ROLLINS. Red Garland does the same song on ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, and Kenny Burrell does "A Child Is Born" on GOD BLESS THE CHILD (not to mention the original Jones-Lewis release, which wasn't on a Christmas album either).

[Alexander]

  Brandon Burke said:

"Greensleeves" isn't technically a Christmas song either but....

The same melody as "Greensleeves" is used for "What Child Is This" which is a Christmas song so...

6 of 1, 1/2 Dozen of the other.

[Brownian Motion]

The Modern Jazz Quartet playing "England's Carol" (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) has a sublime Milt Jackson solo. And Pearl Bailey does a wonderful version of W.C. Handy's "Shine Like a Morning Star", which isn't necessarily a carol but is close enough.

[jlhoots]

We Three (Free) Kings on the Roland Kirk CD.

[DMP]

There are a couple of Christmas tunes on Hank Crawford's "We Got a Good Thing Going" ("Kudo") - anytime I make some kind of Christmas compilation I always lead off with his "Winter Wonderland" - nice Eric Gale on that one.

[Noj]

Did my ears deceive me? I could have sworn there was something Christmas-y on here...

[White Lightning]

The Xmas song from:

[White Lightning]

Sleigh Ride from:

(Originally from Merry Ole Soul, I believe)

[Rooster_Ties]

And aren't there quotes from one or more Christmas songs in his solos -- on every other Dexter Gordon album??

[White Lightning]

I have a private live recording of Woody Shaw playing:

Auld Lang Syne

[White Lightning]

  Rooster_Ties said:

And aren't there quotes from one or more Christmas songs in his solos -- on every other Dexter Gordon album??

No, that's Laura.

Dexter's Xmas quotes comes only every other album...

[Alexander]

Bill Evans playing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" on the "Trio 64" album.

[Rooster_Ties]

  White Lightning said:

  Rooster_Ties said:

And aren't there quotes from one or more Christmas songs in his solos -- on every other Dexter Gordon album?? 

No, that's Laura.

Dexter's Xmas quotes comes only every other album...

As I was saying...

[Jim Alfredson]

Jimmy Smith and Kenny Burrell on "The Master", both I and II, quote Christmas tunes. It was recorded on December 24th in Japan, so that's probably why.

[Guy Berger]

  Alexander said:

Bill Evans playing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" on the "Trio 64" album.

I wasn't there, but the KJ standards trio played this at their recent concert in Chicago. Supposedly the crowd really dug it.

'

Guy

[ghost of miles]

  Alexander said:

Bill Evans playing "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" on the "Trio 64" album.

If you ever get a chance, check out the vocal version on the Evans Verve box.

[Jim R]

"sleigh ride" is on HERB GELLER PLAYS (Emarcy)

"winter wonderland" is on Chet's BOSTON, 1954 (as well as on one of the PJ sessions in the Mosaic studio set)

There's a Vogue CD issue of Kenny Burrell's THE TENDER GENDER that included three tracks from his Christmas album- my favorite things, go where i send thee , and white christmas.

"greensleeves" can be found in the following:

Paul Desmond-Jim Hall Mosaic set

John Coltrane- Africa / Brass

Kenny Burrell- Guitar Forms

Leo Wright- Suddenly The Blues

Jimmy Smith- Organ Grinder Swing

Eddie Higgins- Eddie Higgins In Chicago

"santa claus is coming to town" is in the Bill Evans Riverside set.

[Chuck Nessa]

The cd version of Ralph Moore's Round Trip contains a version of Sleigh Ride.