Verve Presents: Very Best of Christmas Jazz - VA (2001)

Tunes pulled from a number of different eras (1937-96) -- including some gems from the classic Verve, Chess, Impulse, and Mercury catalogs of the 60s -- and one of the finer collections of Christmas jazz to be issued in a long time! There's none of the schmaltzy newer work that can ruin a good Christmas compilation -- just classic tunes handled with the warmth of a snowy evening! Titles include "Jingle Bells" by Jimmy Smith, "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" by Ella Fitzgerald, "Merry Christmas Baby" by Kenny Burrell, "Christmas Eve" by Billy Eckstine, "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme, "Greensleeves" by John Coltrane, "A Child Is Born" by Oscar Peterson, "Silent Night" by Dinah Washington, "Zat You, Santa Claus" by Louis Armstrong, "Let It Snow" by Joe Williams, and "Winter Wonderland" by Shirley Horn. 14 tracks in all! :~ Dusty Groove

Tracks:
01. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Ella Fitzgerald
02. Merry Christmas, Baby - Kenny Burrell
03. Christmas Eve - Billy Eckstine
04. Here Comes Santa Claus - Ramsey Lewis
05. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Joe Williams
06. Greensleeves - John Coltrane
07. The Christmas Song - Mel Torme
08. 'Zat You, Santa Claus? - Louis Armstrong
09. Winter Wonderland - Shirley Horn
10. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bill Evans
11. Good Morning, Blues - Count Basie
12. Jingle Bells - Jimmy Smith
13. Silent Night - Dinah Washington
14. A Child Is Born - Oscar Peterson




Skip the Christmas caroling this year and slide in the Verve Music compilation The Very Best of Christmas Jazz. This jolly collection features fourteen of the world's favorite holiday jingles previously recorded by the legendary vocalists and musicians of jazz. Jazz divas Shirley Horn sings "Winter Wonderland," powerhouse singer Ella Fitzgerald performs a playful rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and the eloquent Dinah Washington amazes on "Silent Night." John Coltrane grooves on "Greensleeves," while Mel Torme offers a timeless version of "The Christmas Song." Delightful treats packed together like an overstuffed Christmas stocking, this selection will be sure to add a joyful spirit to your holiday season.


Here’s a very classy holiday collection bringing together first-rate jazz players and worthy material. Vocalists have their say -- Shirley Horn, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Billy Eckstine turn in committed renditions of Xmas favorites -- but so do exceptional instrumentalists. John Coltrane and his “classic“ quartet put a swinging spin on “Greensleeves,” organist Jimmy Smith jazzes up “Jingle Bells,” pianist Bill Evans (with the assistance of bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Paul Motian) puts a personal touch on “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” and guitarist Kenny Burrell extracts all the blues on “Merry Christmas, Baby,” among other outstanding cuts. Highlights also include Mel Torm? singing his own holiday standard, “Christmas Song,” the Count Basie band with the great vocalist Jimmy Rushing doing “Good Morning Blues,” and Louis Armstrong making merry on “’Zat You, Santa Claus?” Two all-star performances -- “Winter Wonderland” with Shirley Horn supported by trumpeter Roy Hargrove, Stephen Scott, and others, and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” with Joe Williams, saxophonist Bobby Watson, and trumpeter Joe Wilder -- are mini-classics in themselves. :~ Barnes & Noble


Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz Christmas purists, look away now. For most, the holiday season brings to mind images of white snow outside, green trees inside and Yuletide carols being sung by a choir around a battered upright piano. For the majority, carols sung by the Vienna Boys Choir are just peachy, Bing Crosby pushes the envelope, and jazz should stay where it belongs—at the Village Vanguard. For the dissenting minority, holiday songs have long been beaten into unholy submission by endless bland repetition, and jazz giants provide a perfect remedy by taking tradition and swinging it mightily. From the strictly traditional (Dinah Washington on “Silent Night”) to the commercially traditional (Jimmy Smith on “Jingle Bells”) to the decidedly un-traditional (Louis Armstong on “Zat You, Santa Claus”), there is hardly an errant note on their disc. Joe Williams, with his voice of liquid gold, oozes sophistication from every pore during “Let it Snow!” Sentimental and sweet without ever saccharine, Williams’ arrangement presents perhaps the best version of the song ever recorded. Pianist Bill Evans strays away from the vocals and brings his light, lyrical tone and novel improvisation to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” elevating the joyful little ditty to the status of noteworthy art. It’s unfortunate that Charlie Parker’s groundbreaking rendition of “White Christmas” is absent, but otherwise, there’s little wrong with the set. Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torm? and John Coltrane, among others, round out a polished, balanced presentation. Christmas music (or movies) make awful presents, but if stumped when buying for a jazz affeccionado, this ain’t a bad way to go. —James A. Crawford


A nice, offbeat Xmas compilation.