vibes Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 I'm a big fan of Christmas music, and am looking to expand my collection of Christmas jazz. I would appreciate recommendations, especially for items currently in print. Here are a few things I either have or am looking to buy soon: Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas Kenny Burrell - Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas Vince Guaraldi - Charlie Brown Christmas Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin' Ramsey Lewis - The Sound of Christmas What else is out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Burke Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Not exactly jazz but the Booker T. & the MGs Christmas record is fantastic. "Jingle Bells" is also included on the first Stax box set (the black one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 I recommend this every year but Joe Pass' SIX STRING SANTA is a good one. It was released on Laserlight label and can be found for about $6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Wheel Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Eric Reed has a new Christmas album on MaxJazz out. Haven't listened to it yet but will post a quick review as soon as I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robviti Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 (edited) One of my favorite holiday recordings that you might not be familiar with is An Uptown Christmas. Recorded between 1984 and 1988 for the Uptown label, it features the likes of Frank Wess, Charlie Rouse, Johnny Coles, Claudio Roditi, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Jack Sheldon, Sahib Shahib, Carl Fontana, Al Cohn, Richard Wyands, Walter Davis Jr., Barry Harris, Don Sickler, and Maria Muldaur. 'Tis the season to swing! Edited November 17, 2003 by jazzshrink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connoisseur series500 Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 How about Duke Pearson, "Merry Ol Soul?" I have never heard it, but am planning to buy it when it comes out on JRVG. It will also be on the Pearson Mosaic due out soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacman Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 the CDs that get lots of time in the changer: Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas-Various Artists (Verve) Blue Yule-Various Artists Yule Struttin', A Blue Note Christmas-Various Artists Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 JazzShrink knows of what he speaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 There's a nice version of White Christmas on the Conn. of Booker Ervin's Structurally Sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man with the Golden Arm Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 ...and also on Clusone 3's Soft Lights Sweet Music. The whole family likes Hipsters holiday. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Jimmy Ponder's Guitar Christmas on High Note is pleasant listen and is unlikely to frighten anyone. Has Don Braden, John Hicks, Dwayne Dolphin amd Cecil Brooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 One of my favorite holiday recordings that you might not be familiar with is An Uptown Christmas. Recorded between 1984 and 1988 for the Uptown label, it features the likes of Frank Wess, Charlie Rouse, Johnny Coles, Claudio Roditi, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Jack Sheldon, Sahib Shahib, Carl Fontana, Al Cohn, Richard Wyands, Walter Davis Jr., Barry Harris, Don Sickler, and Maria Muldaur. 'Tis the season to swing! Oooooh! This looks like a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmorin Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Oddly, the one Wynton Marsalis CD that I REALLY like is his Crecent City Christmas Card. I always smile during "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow", where after Jon Hendricks sings "And I've bought some corn for popping" he slips in "Poppidity Poppidity Pop". Any CD with Eartha Kitt singing Santa Baby can't be that bad either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STAX Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 It will probably get slammed here but I have Rick Braun's Christmas Present which I like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Cruising Half.com earlier I saw a Christmas CD from Jimmy McGriff. Anyone heard this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted November 23, 2003 Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Just heard the Shorty Rodgers Big Band doing the Nut Cracker Suite. A fine holiday listen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted November 23, 2003 Report Share Posted November 23, 2003 Really, I dislike Xmas music immensely. Way too much of it heard as a kid. .. being a PK has some hazards. That said, I'll echo the admiration of "Crescent City Christmas Card," and the Duke Pearson which is amazingly hip. And I really like Marcus Roberts' "Prayer for Peace." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vibes Posted November 29, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 I just picked up this one: This is the first time I've ever heard a Stan Kenton album. First impressions? This is some of the liveliest Christmas music I've ever heard. Both my wife and I thought it sounded like a marching band. Are all Kenton albums like this? Anyway, the sound is pretty good, but I think it'll take a little while for this one to grow on me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 Vibes, that's one of my favorite Christmas albums, but I like Stan Kenton! In my view, Kenton's best albums were recorded in the fifties. The Xmas LP was about '62 I think. Contemporary Concepts from '55 (I think) was re-released recently, and I recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjazz Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 If you like country music? I'd recommend the Buck Owens and Hank Thompson Christmas CDs on Sundazed. Re-issues of the Capitol albums. The Hank Thompson IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME was just re-issued this year! They both have a nice sense of humor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 Just got the Uptown Christmas CD from Chuck several weeks ago & will vouch for it as well. The Joe Pass mentioned earlier is also good, and I can't wait to hear the Pearson once the new Mosaic Select arrives. The Bill Evans Verve box has a very funny version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on which Evans sings. That's one of my alltime favorite holiday jazz tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vibes Posted November 29, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 The Bill Evans Verve box has a very funny version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on which Evans sings. That's one of my alltime favorite holiday jazz tracks. I just got through playing that for my wife, so it's funny that you should mention it. It is very fun to listen to. I wish he would have recorded some other Christmas tunes. I have four different versions of him playing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," but have never heard of him doing any other Christmas-related material. I've often wondered why he liked this particular song so much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn·m Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 My top pick is Jingle Bell Jazz on Columbia. It’s actually a two-fer combining the previously issued God Rest Ye Merry Jazzmen and Jingle Bell Jazz. One undocumented bonus; Dexter Gordon’s “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” contains about two minutes of playing edited from the version issued on God Rest Ye. · Dexter Gordon “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” · McCoy Tyner “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” · Arthur Blythe Quartet “The Christmas Song” · Heath Brothers “Our Little Town” · Paquito D’Rivera “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” · Wynton Marsalis Quintet “We Three Kings Of Orient Are” · Duke Ellington “Jingle Bells” · Lionel Hampton “White Christmas” · Carmen McRae “The Christmas Song” · Pony Poindexter “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer” · Dave Brubeck Quartet “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” · Lambert, Hendricks and Ross “Deck Us All With Boston Charlie” · Miles Davis “Blue Xmas” · Herbie Hancock “Deck Halls” Prestige Christmas Collection is also worth a quick mention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted November 30, 2003 Report Share Posted November 30, 2003 Ho ho ho Tjazz, thanks for the tip on the Buck Owens and Hank Thompson Christmas albums. I'll have to get those soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgraham333 Posted December 5, 2003 Report Share Posted December 5, 2003 Here's one I stumbled across over at CDBaby.com Rick Gallagher: A Sleigh, a Song, and a Baby Boy A Must have collection of freshly rearranged Christmas classics performed by a swinging, yet sensitive trio with percussion. Rick Gallagher is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and teacher. A native of Pittsburgh, he began his musical studies at age ten, and started his piano training at age sixteen. He received a bachelor's degree in music from Duquesne University, and studied with David Budway for eight years. Gallagher is noteworthy for his classic jazz style, creative arrangements, and his memorable originals. His influences include Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Red Garland, Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Benny Green, Ray Brown, Miles Davis, George Shearing, and David Budway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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