Quantcast
NEWS |   Sign In   |   I'm New Here
Return to home page





First Steps
Min Rager
Shambhala
Susan Wylde
Go and Find
Leanne Weatherly
In Between Moods
Tony Foster
This Heart of Mine
Pamela Hines
Moods
Michaela Rabitsch & Robert Pawlik Quartet








Pete McCann
Info | Enter
Gretchen Parlato
Info | Enter
Henry Threadgill
Info | Enter
Keith Jarrett
Info | Enter

A Jazz Musician's Christmas
The Tom Kubis Big Band | Sea Breeze Jazz (2002)


By Jack Bowers
Comments        

A Jazz Musician’s Christmas is a reissue on Sea Breeze of (much of) two earlier albums by the Tom Kubis Big Band, It’s Not Just for Christmas Anymore! and You Just Can’t Have Enough Christmas. Those who may have overlooked one or both of them are sure to appreciate the reissue, which is guaranteed to put anyone this side of Ebenezer Scrooge in a festive holiday mood. Not only is the band world–class (the sidemen are among the West Coast’s best and busiest musicians), there are delightful turns by trumpeter / vocalist / humorist Jack Sheldon on the title tune and “The Twelve Days of Christmas (My Agent Gave to Me)." The other vocals (“Let It Snow,” “Winter Wonderland”) are ably handled by Carol Jolin (Mrs. K) who co–wrote “A Jazz Musician’s Christmas” with Tom. The versatile Kubis, who arranged everything, solos on soprano sax (“Joy to the World,” “Away in a Manger,” “O Holy Night,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas”), piano (“Oh Christmas Tree,” “Silent Night”) and tenor sax (“We Three Kings”). Other featured soloists are trumpeter Stan Martin (“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” a medley of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem”), guitarist Mike Higgins (“Deck the Halls”), bass trombonist Rich Bullock (“Jingle Bells”) and trumpeter Wayne Bergeron (“Auld Lang Syne”). The ’bone section (Andy Martin, Charlie Morillas, Alex Iles) shine like the moon on new–fallen snow on “God Rest Ye Merry Trombones“ and there are impressive statements elsewhere by trumpeters Sheldon, George Graham and Jeff Bunnell, bassist Trey Henry and guest tenor Pete Christlieb (“We Three Kings”). Easily recommended to anyone who doesn’t have either of the earlier albums in his / her big–band library.


Track listing: Joy to the World; A Jazz Musician�s Christmas; Away in a Manger; O Holy Night; Let It Snow; God Rest Ye Merry Trombones; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Oh Christmas Tree; It Came Upon a Midnight Clear; Deck the Halls; The Twelve Days of Christmas (my agent gave to me); Jingle Bells; O Come All Ye Faithful / O Little Town of Bethlehem; We Three Kings; Silent Night; Winter Wonderland; Auld Lang Syne (62:58).

Personnel: Tracks 1, 3, 4, 8�13 � Tom Kubis, leader, soprano sax; Wayne Bergeron, George Graham, Jeff Bunnell, Stan Martin, Gary Halopoff, trumpet; Andy Martin, Alex Iles, Charlie Morillas, Rich Bullock, Chuck Hughes, trombone; Sal Lozano, Mike Whitman, alto sax; Bill Liston, Rusty Higgins, tenor sax; Jay Mason, baritone sax; Jack Reidling, piano; Mike Higgins, guitar; Trey Henry, bass; Steve Araujo (13), electric bass; Ray Brinker, drums; Kurt Rasmussen, percussion; Carol Jolin, Jack Sheldon, vocals. Tracks 2, 5�7, 14�17 � Graham, Bergeron, Martin, Bunnell, trumpet; Martin, Iles, Morillas, Bullock, trombone; Lozano, Mason, alto sax; Whitman, Jeff Driskell, tenor sax; Brian Williams, baritone sax; Reidling, piano; Higgins, guitar; Henry, bass; Brinker, drums; Rasmussen, percussion; Jolin, Sheldon, vocals. Also performing � Halopoff, Darrel Gardner, Christian Beck, trumpet; John Leys, Bob McChesney, trombone; Higgins, alto sax; Dick Weller (2), drums. Special guest � Pete Christlieb (14), tenor sax.

Style: Big Band
Published: November 01, 2002


Read more reviews of A Jazz Musician's Christmas.

More Holiday Reviews


Be the first to post a comment on:
The Tom Kubis Big Band's A Jazz Musician's Christmas

Signup & post a comment!






More articles by Jack Bowers

Salute to Stan Kenton: Artistry in Contrast
Gerald Wilson Orchestra / Dallas Original Jazz...
I'm Flying
Rob Parton Quartet
Deck the Halls with Big Band Carols




Recent CD Reviews
George Garzone - Among Friends George Garzone
Among Friends
Charles Tyler - Charles Tyler Ensemble Charles Tyler
Charles Tyler Ensemble
Rudi Mahall / Axel Dorner / Jan Roder / Uli Jennessen - Die Enttausschung Rudi Mahall / Axel Dorner / Jan Roder / Uli Jennessen
Die Enttausschung
Fay Victor Ensemble - The Freesong Suite Fay Victor Ensemble
The Freesong Suite
Jon Irabagon with Mike Pride - I Don't Hear Nothin' But the Blues Jon Irabagon with Mike Pride
I Don't Hear Nothin' But the Blues
Hank Jones / Oliver Jones - Pleased To Meet You Hank Jones / Oliver Jones
Pleased To Meet You

CD Review Search
Artist Name  
Album Title  
Record Label  
Author  
 




 
(93)













.. Privacy Policy | AAJ Supports: Lens Lady All material copyright © 2009 All About Jazz and/or contributing writer/visual artist. All rights reserved. Advertise | Contact Us