Christmas In Jazzland

When one contemplates the season of giving, I am reminded that most families have their very own traditions and rituals, from the time the gifts are opened to the decorations atop the Christmas tree, to the menu on either Christmas Eve or day.

Music is often an essential component of the festivities, as it has been in my dwellings. Often, a piano, guitar or accordion has served as the centrepiece for a musical gathering. In my world, records and cassettes, and cd players have generally served as the norm.  The music heard through the holidays whether at home or abroad is filled with childhood associations, and the carols have usually endured the passage of time.  Emotions evoked by the music of Christmas are often a curious integration of happiness with childhood Christmases remembered; and sadness for the ones that can never be repeated. However, Christmas can be illuminated with peaceful solemnity, if one quietly lights a candle, and ponders the great mystery that was His birth.

I have created an essential Christmas Jazz list of recordings to help to keep the season bright and merry. In the hands of many artists, the seasonal songs may move to merely be an attempt to market a Christmas product; but with the following recordings, one can expect projects of the fullest expression of the artist’s unique mixture of innocence and sophistication. Just listen to Ella’s joyous, swinging readings of Frosty and Rudolf that cause individuals to jump up and
clap, snap fingers, or even dance. Then there are the lush, sensuous saxophone stylings of Scott (Hamilton), who can elicit love in his rendering of ‘The Christmas Love Song’. Tony Bennett eloquently sings about the less fortunate in ‘Where is Love?’;  while The New York Voices chant ‘O Come, O Come,  Emmanuel exquisitely to the highest as they wander.  And perhaps no one brings more drama, reverence, and romance to these sacred songs than singer beyond
category, Frank Sinatra. In other words, if such esteemed performers such as Lady Ella, The Velvet Fog, Take  Dave, The Count, and Charlie Brown fail to jingle your bells, chances are that nothing will…

Twelve Reasons For The Season  (Christmas)

                                
1. Tony Bennett with Robert Farnon – Snowfall (Columbia, 1972)
2. Ella Fitzerald with Frank DeVol-A Swinging Christmas (Verve, 1960)
3. The Manhattan Transfer-The Christmas Album (Sony,1992)
4. A Dave Brubeck Christmas (Telarc, 1996)
5. Scott Hamilton with Strings (Concord, 1997)
6. Tuck Andress-Hymns, Carols & Songs About Snow (Windham, 1991)
7. New York Voices-Let It Snow (Five Cent Records, 2013)
8. Vince Guaraldi Trio-A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy/Concord, 1965)
9. Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass-Big Band Christmas (Concord, 1998)
10. Frank Sinatra-The Sinatra Christmas Album (Capital, 1957)
11. An Oscar Peterson Christmas(Telarc, 1995)
12. Mel Torme-Christmas Songs (Telarc, 1992)
Bonus
13. Tony Bennett with Count Basie Alumni-A Swingin’ Christmas(Col., 2008)
14. Essential Jazz Christmas (Various-N.Cole, P.Lee, L.Armstrong) (EJC,2007)
15. Chet Baker/Christopher Mason-Silent Nights(GSK, 1986)