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A Mixed Bag of Christmas GoodiesÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ2002
By C. Michael Bailey
This has been an average year for Holiday Jazz releases. Ergo, one has to dig deep to find seasonal fare worthy of discussion. Thus, this year I am addressing a bit of a mixed bag of seasonal music, some old and some new. Some of this music slipped by me and some slipped by everyone else.
Seasonal fare is often best treated conservatively. These are melodies so engrained in our collective Western unconscious that hearing them any other way is tantamount to heresy. There is a fine line between truly innovative jazz expression and going so far out that the listener is scared off.
Some of the music is not traditionally associated with the Holidays some is squarely in the tradition. Most of these releases are on independent labels, though not all. No MatterÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂthis "Twelve Days of Christmas" are all worthy of consideration for that next Holiday Music purchases.
The Classical Jazz Quartet: TchaikovskyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs The Nutcracker (Vertical Jazz, 2001)
This is not a small group treatment of Duke EllingtonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs rearrangement of TchaikovskyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs seasonal classic (see below). Producer/saxophonist Bob Belden is responsible for this holiday treat where he arranges melodies for the consideration of a jazz quartet fashioned after the revered Modern jazz Quartet. Leader and bassist Ron Carter, pianist Kenny Barron, Drummer Lewis Nash, and vibraphonist Stefon Harris comprise the Classical Jazz Quartet. TchaikovskyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs The Nutcracker is light and airy with just the right amount of improvisation. The melody remains king and the improvisation will give the listener reflective pause, but not so much to cause a loss of interest.
The Classical Jazz Quartet: Plays Bach (Vertical Jazz, 2002)
A brilliant continuation of TchaikovskyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs The Nutcracker (above), Plays Bach starts off with "Jesu, Joy of ManÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Desiring" and swings on from there. As with his previous inspiration, Belden takes snippets of melody and arranges them to be expounded upon by the super-group that is the Classical Jazz Quartet. Besides the famous chorale, Belden adapts parts of BachÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs oboe concerto, the Brandenburg Concertos and two- and three-part inventions. These Classical Jazz Quartet offerings are suggested because they are a road less traveled for those listeners who have grown weary of the standard holiday musical fare.
The Ray Brown Trio: Christmas Songs with the Ray Brown Trio (Telarc Jazz, 1999)
The jazz world is only now beginning to realize the enormity of its loss in the death of bassist Ray Brown on July 2, 2002. Be fore he departed, Brown produced his first holiday recording. On this recording, Brown tapped the vocal talents of Dee Dee Bridgewater, Etta Jones, Diana Krall, Nancy King, Kevin Mahogany, Vanessa Rubin, and Marlena Shaw. Longtime associate Ralph Moore joins Mr. Brown of a tenor saxophone-lead "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer." Russell Malone provides his guitar on several pieces. Geoff Keezer fills the all-important piano chair with Gregory Hutchinson supplying the trap set. The results are exceptional and the holiday season swinging.
Joe Pass: Six-String Santa (Laserlight, 1992)
Is Joe Pass the finest guitarist to ever play jazz? I suspect so. Ever since Pass emerged from a decade of addiction and neglect and recorded The Sound of Synanon in 1962, he has been considered the complete package. Superb accompanist, competent leader, peerless soloist. February 4, 1992, Pass entered the studio with a second guitarist, bass, and drums to record a collection of seasonal favorites. The results, released on the budget Laserlight Label, are what listeners have come to expect form Mr. PassÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂthat is, sublime. Pass arranges these diamonds, rubies, and emeralds with great care.
Duke Ellington: Three Suites (Columbia Legacy, 1960)
The only thing that Wynton Marsalis could improve in this masterpiece would be the sonics. Included here because of EllingtonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs treatment of TchaikovskyÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs The Nutcracker, the disc also includes EllingtonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs arrangement of Edvard GriegÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Peer Gynt Suites, and EllingtonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs own hommage to John Steinbeck, Suite Thursday. The ubiquitous Nutcracker is reassigned new life by Ellington, who expresses into the classical piece his own fierce yet urbane personality. More pure happiness than sense of humor, Ellington continues to write for his scary talented sidemen. If Ellington ever composed a love letter to humanity, this would be it.
Beegie Adair Trio: Jazz Piano Christmas (Green Hill Records, 1992)
This is holiday music presented as tasteful jazz. Ms. Adair has built a reputation on melodic respect and conservative arrangement within the warm walls of the piano trio. She impresses a gentle swing into all of the songs of her focus, a predictable but delightful assembly of the usual suspects. A perfect companion to her recently released Centennial Composers Collection. Purchase from Green Hill Music Website.
Jim Wilson: My First Christmas With You (Hillsboro Records, 2002)
My First Christmas with You is a smart mix of jazz, classical and New Age, with the popular thrown in. Pianist Jim Wilson tosses in "The Doxology" as part of an effective medley with "The Little Drummer Boy". Dan Fogelberg joins Wilson on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, and Stephen Bishop joins him on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Wilson provides his composition, "the River," featuring Everett Harp on the saxophone. In all, this is a beautiful holiday offering. Purchase from Green Hill Music Website.
Steve Tyrell: This Time of Year (Columbia Records, 2002)
This is the classiest of the holiday releases by far. Producer/Singer Steve Tyrell presents a collection of holiday favorites with a very mixed pedigree. Tyrell, a native of Texas, has the phrasing of Frank Sinatra, the performance sense of Tony Bennett, and the voice of a sober Mac Rebennack, if born out on the mesa. The sound of this disc is very big. Fronting a large orchestra with tunes arranged by Bob Mann (who also supplies tasty guitar to the mix), Tyrell sings songs with a smile on them. This, and Tony BennettÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Snowfall, might be all one needs for the Holiday Season. Columbia Records.
Jacques Loussier Trio: Handel (Telarc Jazz, 2002)
HandelÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs music, any of it, has almost become synonymous with festive occasions on the strength of this oratorio, Messiah, alone. Handel is part of Jacques LoussierÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs survey of the "Classical Canon." Loussier deftly mixes counterpoint and blues, producing a nod, nod, nodding head to the great Saxon himself. If you do not think you can hear the Alleluia Chorus one more time, but still want to Hear Handel at Christmas, then this is the disc for you. Telarc Jazz.
The Tom Kubis Big Band: A Jazz MusicianÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Christmas (Sea Breeze Jazz, 2002)
Hands down the best big band offering this holiday season, The Tom Kubis Big Band Delivers 17 smartly arranged seasonal chestnuts. "Smartly arranged" may be a bit of a minimization. These arrangements, all by maestro Kubis, bristle with originality and energy. KubisÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ soprano saxophone is ubiquitous (a knock-out "Joy to the World") and has more to say in a single note than that other soprano saxophonist (you-know-who) has in three holiday releases. On hand is that west coast wiseguy, Jack Sheldon, lending his unique vocals and trumpet style to "A Jazz MusicianÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Christmas" and a slightly modified "Twelve Days of Christmas." "God Rest Ye Merry Trombones" spotlights the bandÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂbone section, with everyone having a shot at the melody. Over the top are Carol JolinÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs vocals on "Winter Wonderland" and Mike HigginsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ guitar solo on the same. It is likewise for HigginsÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ acoustic guitar solo on "Deck the Halls." This is what JAZZ is all about and this is a jazz musicianÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Holiday album. Purchase from Sea Breeze Jazz Website.
Bruce Abbott and the Northstar Jazz Ensemble with the Hawthorne String Quartet: Mistletoe Sax (Northstar, 2002)
This is the best Saxophone/Strings holiday offering since Scott HamiltonÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Christmas Love Song (Concord Jazz, 1997). It is plush and romantic. Mr. Abbott never over-improvises, deciding instead to remain close to the melody. He is capable supported by pianist Ron Fournier, bassist Marty Ballou, and drummer Paul Mason. Every on gets solo space. The strings are provided by the Hawthorne String Quartet, giving the music a warm glow that is never smatlzy or shallow. The arrangements are all safely competent and conservative (the five minutes of "Winter wonderland" are very cool). Mr. Abbott makes the rounds on all of the saxophones, save the bass and baritone brothers, all with great effect. Purchase from Northstar Music Website.
Jo-El Sonnier: Cajun Christmas (Green Hill Records, 2002)
There is a certain honesty in acoustic music that lies in its technical simplicity. That beautiful honesty shows up on Jo-El SonnierÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs new Green Hill recording Cajun Christmas. At first glance, one might consider this recording an anemic attempt to stuff the traditional Christmas turkey with a Zydeco dressing. Indeed, this is what happens, but the results are so quaint, surprising, and uniformly fine that the entire project works, all the way around. The carols are divided by interpretation. "Deck The Halls," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "Joy to the World" are 4/4 dances; "Jingle Bells" "Jingle Bell Rock," "Santa Claus is coming to Town" are two-steps; and "Silver Bells," "The First Noel," and "Away in the Manger" are Cajun waltzes. All fit perfectly in a cultural perspective. However, I suspect that the listener, rather than thinking of turkey and dressing, giblet gravy, and cranberry sauce when hearing these seasonal favorites will strangely and with great familiarity think of dirty rice, shrimp remoulade, and crawfish etouffee. Purchase from Green Hill Music Website.
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