JAM Magazine: December/January 1995: For the Record

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?
It's The Seasonal Sounds of Jazz

by Michelle Buckley

Like holiday fruitcakes, Christmas music sometimes defies conventional wisdom. From reggae to calypso to Hawaiian... rap to folk to rock and country western, every musical genre imaginable pays homage to this, the most celebrated of holiday seasons.

And while all genres are, shall we say -- interesting -- none compare to the sensational, seasonal sounds of jazz. So while the goose is getting fat, and those chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, take a trip to your nearest record store and pick up a couple of the releases mentioned on this, our Christmas jazz wish list, intended for true Christmas and jazz lovers everywhere. (Scrooges and rockers need not read on!)

Enjoy the grooves, and have a Merry, Jazzy Christmas.

Dreams Come True -- Kansas City at Christmas Time
Various Kansas City Artists
Independent (1991)
Enjoy some of Kansas City's best Christmas jazz and make dreams come true at the same time by purchasing this release, which features favorite sons (and daughters) Mike Metheny, Karrin Allyson, Anne Steward, Millie Nottingham, Danny Embrey, Pete Eye, Joe Cartwright, Stan Kessler, Bill Caldwell, Tim Davis, Gary Sivils and Greg Meise. From the funky "We Three Kings" to the Latin-tinged "Carol of the Bells," this collection provides pleasant alternatives to traditional time-worn arrangements. Proceeds from sales of this release benefit The Dream Factory, a non-profit group that grants the wishes of seriously ill children between the ages of 3 and 18.

When My Heart Finds Christmas
Harry Connick Jr.
Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment (1993)
Surprised to find him here? Don't be. In recent years, Connick has sporadically strayed from his standard Sinatra-like fare and into the world of jazz and blues. This collection has a tangy-Louisiana jazz timbre and, while the classics are all here (including "Ave Maria" and "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer"), it's the original compositions like "When My Heart Finds Christmas" and "The Blessed Dawn of Christmas Day" that really stand out. Note: Connick also shines on the 1990 multi-artist release, A Jazz Wonderland.

Christmas Songs
Mel Torme
TelArc Jazz (1992)
With songs like "Glow Worm," "The Christmas Feeling," "It Happened in Sun Valley," "Christmas Was Made For Children," "The Christmas Waltz" and "Happy Holidays/Let's Start The New Year Right," you know this is no ordinary Christmas collection. The unusual selections are a real treat, though, and the standards are fun too. Great for all the straight-aheads who can't get enough of "Mr. Straight Ahead" himself.

GRP Christmas Collection (Vol. I - III)
Various Artists
GRP Records (1988, 1991, 1993)
This three volume collection from GRP features some of the hottest performers in contemporary jazz. There's Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, Special EFX, Chick Corea, Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Kim Pensyl, George Howard and Billy Taylor with bluesmen B.B. King and Ramsey Lewis thrown in for good measure. The many standard Christmas classics are given the GRP touch ranging from jazz-funk to free jazz, avant garde to post-bop and instrumental pop. You can't go wrong with any of these three recordings.

Crescent City Christmas Card
Wynton Marsalis
CBS (1989)
Wynton Marsalis, a confirmed post-bop purist, is in rare form on this high voltage, five year old release. His stylistic treatments of "Twas The Night Before Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing," "Let It Snow" and "Sleigh Ride" are to die for. Opera super-star Kathleen Battle is featured on "Silent Night."

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Fantasy Records (1988)
Perhaps the most straight-ahead collection on the list, this release is the original soundtrack from the animated special of the same name, first televised in 1965. It's said that "Peanuts" creator Charles Schultz wanted a jazz soundtrack for the special, and while driving in his car one day, he heard Guaraldi on the radio and knew right away he was the one for the project. Thus began the birth of "Linus and Lucy," "Christmas Time Is Here," "Skating," "My Little Drum" and "Fur Elise." This album is a lot of fun and will bring back memories for those who have fond remembrances of the television classic.

My Gift
Kim Pensyl
Optimism
This mid-80's collection features clean, light instrumental accompaniment and includes tried and true numbers like "O Holy Night," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Joy To The World," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Pensyl's piano stylings will remind you of Bill Evans, and his playing here is a far cry from a more recent experimentation phase, heard on the aforementioned GRP Christmas collection.

The Singers Unlimited Christmas
Singers Unlimited
MPS (1972)
Free of the overly sappy sentimentality sometimes found on vocal Christmas recordings, this unpretentious release by the noted quartet experiments with both the old and the new. Songs like "Ah Bleak and Chill the Wintry Nights," "Bright, Bright the Hollyberries" and "The Carol of the Russian Children" add a unique flavor to this collection, which also contains standards like "Deck The Halls," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Joy To The World." Recorded in West Germany, this release is an excellent example of why leader Gene Puerling and vocalist Bonnie Herman are enduring favorites.

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE NEW 1994 RELEASES...

The Savoy Jazz Christmas Album (Savoy Jazz)
The Spirit Traveler (JVC)

Both of these are worth checking out, if only to hear the tracks from Johnny Guarnieri, Charlie Parker, Big Maybelle, Eric Gale, Wah Wah Watson, Phil Upchurch, James Jamerson Jr. and James Gadson.

...AS WELL AS THESE YEARLY FAVORITES

Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas (Verve)
A Merry Jazzmas (Novus)
Yule Struttin': A Blue Note Christmas (Blue Note)
A Jazzy Wonderland (Columbia/CBS)
Jingle Bell Jazz (Columbia/CBS)
That Christmas Swing (Regency)
Christmas In The Mood I & II (Delta Music)

These albums feature a smorgasbord of jazzy Christmas music sure to appeal to the varied tastes of all jazz connoisseurs. Highlights from the respective releases include tracks from Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Steve Coleman, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, Carmen McRae, Steve Lacy, Joey Calderazzo, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Tony Bennett, Grover Washington Jr., Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck and Glenn Miller.

RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1995 MAIN INDEX

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© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.






	Search our site:		DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? It's The Seasonal Sounds of Jazz by Michelle Buckley Like holiday fruitcakes, Christmas music sometimes defies conventional wisdom. From reggae to calypso to Hawaiian... rap to folk to rock and country western, every musical genre imaginable pays homage to this, the most celebrated of holiday seasons. And while all genres are, shall we say -- interesting -- none compare to the sensational, seasonal sounds of jazz. So while the goose is getting fat, and those chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, take a trip to your nearest record store and pick up a couple of the releases mentioned on this, our Christmas jazz wish list, intended for true Christmas and jazz lovers everywhere. (Scrooges and rockers need not read on!) Enjoy the grooves, and have a Merry, Jazzy Christmas. Dreams Come True -- Kansas City at Christmas Time Various Kansas City Artists Independent (1991) Enjoy some of Kansas City's best Christmas jazz and make dreams come true at the same time by purchasing this release, which features favorite sons (and daughters) Mike Metheny, Karrin Allyson, Anne Steward, Millie Nottingham, Danny Embrey, Pete Eye, Joe Cartwright, Stan Kessler, Bill Caldwell, Tim Davis, Gary Sivils and Greg Meise. From the funky "We Three Kings" to the Latin-tinged "Carol of the Bells," this collection provides pleasant alternatives to traditional time-worn arrangements. Proceeds from sales of this release benefit The Dream Factory, a non-profit group that grants the wishes of seriously ill children between the ages of 3 and 18. When My Heart Finds Christmas Harry Connick Jr. Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment (1993) Surprised to find him here? Don't be. In recent years, Connick has sporadically strayed from his standard Sinatra-like fare and into the world of jazz and blues. This collection has a tangy-Louisiana jazz timbre and, while the classics are all here (including "Ave Maria" and "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer"), it's the original compositions like "When My Heart Finds Christmas" and "The Blessed Dawn of Christmas Day" that really stand out. Note: Connick also shines on the 1990 multi-artist release, A Jazz Wonderland. Christmas Songs Mel Torme TelArc Jazz (1992) With songs like "Glow Worm," "The Christmas Feeling," "It Happened in Sun Valley," "Christmas Was Made For Children," "The Christmas Waltz" and "Happy Holidays/Let's Start The New Year Right," you know this is no ordinary Christmas collection. The unusual selections are a real treat, though, and the standards are fun too. Great for all the straight-aheads who can't get enough of "Mr. Straight Ahead" himself. GRP Christmas Collection (Vol. I - III) Various Artists GRP Records (1988, 1991, 1993) This three volume collection from GRP features some of the hottest performers in contemporary jazz. There's Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, Special EFX, Chick Corea, Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Kim Pensyl, George Howard and Billy Taylor with bluesmen B.B. King and Ramsey Lewis thrown in for good measure. The many standard Christmas classics are given the GRP touch ranging from jazz-funk to free jazz, avant garde to post-bop and instrumental pop. You can't go wrong with any of these three recordings. Crescent City Christmas Card Wynton Marsalis CBS (1989) Wynton Marsalis, a confirmed post-bop purist, is in rare form on this high voltage, five year old release. His stylistic treatments of "Twas The Night Before Christmas," "Winter Wonderland," "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing," "Let It Snow" and "Sleigh Ride" are to die for. Opera super-star Kathleen Battle is featured on "Silent Night." A Charlie Brown Christmas Vince Guaraldi Trio Fantasy Records (1988) Perhaps the most straight-ahead collection on the list, this release is the original soundtrack from the animated special of the same name, first televised in 1965. It's said that "Peanuts" creator Charles Schultz wanted a jazz soundtrack for the special, and while driving in his car one day, he heard Guaraldi on the radio and knew right away he was the one for the project. Thus began the birth of "Linus and Lucy," "Christmas Time Is Here," "Skating," "My Little Drum" and "Fur Elise." This album is a lot of fun and will bring back memories for those who have fond remembrances of the television classic. My Gift Kim Pensyl Optimism This mid-80's collection features clean, light instrumental accompaniment and includes tried and true numbers like "O Holy Night," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Joy To The World," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Pensyl's piano stylings will remind you of Bill Evans, and his playing here is a far cry from a more recent experimentation phase, heard on the aforementioned GRP Christmas collection. The Singers Unlimited Christmas Singers Unlimited MPS (1972) Free of the overly sappy sentimentality sometimes found on vocal Christmas recordings, this unpretentious release by the noted quartet experiments with both the old and the new. Songs like "Ah Bleak and Chill the Wintry Nights," "Bright, Bright the Hollyberries" and "The Carol of the Russian Children" add a unique flavor to this collection, which also contains standards like "Deck The Halls," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Joy To The World." Recorded in West Germany, this release is an excellent example of why leader Gene Puerling and vocalist Bonnie Herman are enduring favorites. AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT THESE NEW 1994 RELEASES... The Savoy Jazz Christmas Album (Savoy Jazz) The Spirit Traveler (JVC) Both of these are worth checking out, if only to hear the tracks from Johnny Guarnieri, Charlie Parker, Big Maybelle, Eric Gale, Wah Wah Watson, Phil Upchurch, James Jamerson Jr. and James Gadson. ...AS WELL AS THESE YEARLY FAVORITES Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas (Verve) A Merry Jazzmas (Novus) Yule Struttin': A Blue Note Christmas (Blue Note) A Jazzy Wonderland (Columbia/CBS) Jingle Bell Jazz (Columbia/CBS) That Christmas Swing (Regency) Christmas In The Mood I & II (Delta Music) These albums feature a smorgasbord of jazzy Christmas music sure to appeal to the varied tastes of all jazz connoisseurs. Highlights from the respective releases include tracks from Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Steve Coleman, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, Carmen McRae, Steve Lacy, Joey Calderazzo, Chet Baker, Dexter Gordon, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Tony Bennett, Grover Washington Jr., Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck and Glenn Miller. RETURN TO DECEMBER/JANUARY 1995 MAIN INDEX ------------------------------------------------------------------------ © Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.