Wilhelm sings fron the center of the Christmas canon with slightly more secular carols than religious ones. Of note are "Let it Snow," "The Christmas Song," and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." The original "I Still Believe in Santa Claus" is cheerful and sprite. "Its The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" gives Andy Williams a run for his Holiday money.

I Still Believe is the most mainstream holiday collection reviewed this year. There is nothing to dislike about this recording.

Visit Karen Wilhelm on the Web.

The Boilermaker Jazz Band
Swingin' The Season
Self Produced
2008

Jazz performance is such a potent means of conveying any number of emotions from joy and sadness to longing and nostalgia. The Boilermaker Jazz Band's Swingin' The Season very much taps into the nostalgia of Christmas of years past, in particular 1920s Chicago, where the liqour was illegal and the music was hotter than a two-dollar pistol. "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" begins like a speakeasy door opening into a warm, smoky interior where guitarist Eddie Condon and his gang are playing and clarinetist Benny Goodman decides to show up (with cornetist Bix Beiderbecke in tow) and duet with the local snake charmer, in this case Leannie Luvv.

Clarinetist Paul Cosentino and drummer Rick Strong introduce an absolutely jamming "We Three Kings." Pianist Mark Kotishion plays some tops barrelhouse piano. David Gavison's banjo lends all necessary authenticity to the Chicago Christmas, circa 1926. If a period piece was what the Boilermakers were trying to affect, they succeeded splendidly. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "White Christmas," and "Jingle Bells" smack of Dick Hyman vintage piano rags.

This is the most spirited and authentic holiday release this year. It is a sure thing for those looking for the Christmas canon treated with respect, but also in an historically accurate manner. Swingin' The Season is a Jazz Age Love Letter to the season...all juniper and cream.

Visit Boilermaker Jazz Band on the Web.

Tracks and Personnel

Silent Nights: A Jazz Christmas Album

Tracks: Silent Night (Original - Silent Night, Holy Night); The First Noel (Traditional English Carol); We Three Kings; Hark, The Herald Angels Sing; Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen; Amazing Grace; Come All Ye Faithfull (Original - Adeste Fideles); Joy To The World; Amen; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Silent Night.

Personnel: Chet Baker: trumpet; Christopher Mason: alto saxophone; Mike Pellera: piano; Jim Singleton; Johnny Vidcovitch: drums.

Perpetual Motion

Tracks: Keyboard Sonata in C Major K. 159 - (Scarlatti); Two-Part Invention No. 13 - (Bach); Doctor Gradus Ad Parnassum - (Debussy, from "Children's Corner"); Mazurka in F-Sharp Minor - (Chopin); Prelude From Partita No. 3 For Solo Violin - (Bach); Etude in C-Sharp Minor - (Chopin); Mazurka in F-Sharp Minor - (Chopin); Three-Part Invention No. 10 - (Bach); Melody in E-Flat - (Tchaikovsky;) Presto in G Minor I After Bach - (Brahms); Prelude From Suite For Unaccompanied Cello No. 1 - (Bach); Three-Part Invention No. 15 - (Bach); Moto Perpetuo - (Paganini); Keyboard Sonata in D Minor K. 213 - (Scarlatti); Two-Part Invention No. 6 - (Bach); Adagio Sostenuto From Moonlight Sonata - (Beethoven) Two-Part Invention No. 11 - (Bach); Seven Variations on "God Save the King" - (Beethoven); Three-Part Invention No. 7 - (Bach); Moto Perpetuo - (Paganini, bluegrass version).

Personnel: Bela Fleck: banjo; Bryan Sutton: steel string guitar; Joshua Bell: violin; Gary Hoffman: cello; Edgar Meyer: bass, piano; John Williams: guitar; Chris Thile: mandolin; Evelyn Glennie: marimba.

I Still Believe

Tracks: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!; It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year/Winter Wonderland; Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas; The Christmas Song; I Still Believe In Santa Claus; Santa Claus Is Coming To Town; White Christmas; A Charlie Brown Christmas (O'Tannenbaum); Silent Night; We Need A Little Christmas; I'll Be Home For Christmas; What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?.

Personnel: Karen Wilhelm: vocals; David Kenney: piano and keyboards; Michael S. Etkins: acoustic and electric bass; Robert Fant: drums; Larry McKenna: tenor saxophone; Kaj Hansen: flute; piccolo, Chuck Gottesman: trumpet; Bob Carl: flugelhorn and trombone; Mark Cristofaro: percussion.

Swingin' The Season

Tracks: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm; Let It Snow; We Three Kings; Winter Wonderland; Blue Christmas; Feliz Navidad; Home for the Holidays; Jingle Bells; Santa Baby; Boogie Woogie Santa Claus; I'll Be Home For Christmas; Holly Jolly Christmas; Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah; What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; White Christmas.

Personnel: Paul Cosentino: clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, vocals; David Gavison: Banjo, vocals; Gerry Gagon: trombone, background vocals; Mark Kotishion: piano, vocals; Leannie Luvv: vocals; Ernest McCarty: bass; Rick Strong: drums, congas, vocals.

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