Date:	15-Nov-1998 21:18:59
From:	Michael Ricci (coolcat@visionx.com)
	Here are a few of my faves... * A Charlie Brown Christmas * Christmas with the Canadian Brass * Yule Sruttin': A Blue Note Christmas (love John Scofield's version of "Chipmunk Christmas").

 

Date:	16-Nov-1998 15:45:07
From:	Joe (jcovey@comfax.com)
	Oscar Peterson's Xmass CD Jimmy Smith - Christmas Cookin'

 

Date:	16-Nov-1998 15:51:03
From:	Douglas Payne (dpayne@ix.netcom.com)
	The novelty of "holiday jazz" rarely produces enduring classics. There are, I think, the perennial holiday moods of Vince Guaraldi's A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS or even George Winston's more somber DECEMBER. But the new CHRISTMAS WITH THE GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET is the rare exception. It's everything the holidays promise: warm and wonderful, fun and swinging. The veteran pianist revisits his classic quintet sound and decks the halls with a heartfelt, joyful collection that will even play well into the new year, long after the mistletoe comes down.

 

Date:	17-Nov-1998 08:01:12
From:	ChriS (cslawec9@idt.net)
	Lou Rawls put out a Holiday CD in '66 called "Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!" that is just so mid-60s cool and soulfully funky it ain't even funny (be on guard: he put out another one in sometime in the 80s that flat-out sucks). Obviously the Vince Guaraldi "Charlie Brown" groove. And I grew up with the Johnny Mathis Chrismas record, so that's a personal timeless classic.

 

Date:	18-Nov-1998 13:00:07
From:	Nancy (jazgirl@ibm.net)
	Among the schmaltz, there ARE several great contemporary Christmas albums -- check out the following: Breath of Heaven -- Grover Washington Jr. Christmas Present -- Rick Braun Tis the Season -- various including Jon Lucien, Jonathan Butler, Candy Dulfer Boney's Funky Christmas -- Boney James and for slightly more conventional, two great ones by Dave Brubeck: A Dave Brubeck Christmas and La Fiesta de la Posada.

 

Date:	18-Nov-1998 13:03:47
From:	Jazbo
	Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" is a classic. "Christmas" by Mannheim Steamroller and "Christmas Collection" by The Carpenters are nice too. I still play the ol' Percy Faith & His Orchestra Christmas collections on vinyl.

 

Date:	19-Nov-1998 00:32:06
From:	Paul Abella (Pabella3@aol.com)
	Michael Franks- I bought you a plastic star for your aluminum tree.

 

Date:	19-Nov-1998 17:37:28
From:	Norman Linwood (linwoodnorman@trigon.com)
	Doug, I agree with your assessment of the Shearing disc. This CD, which I've just purchased, is at first a bit rattling because I'm not altogether wild about the "Shearing sound," though I do like moderate dosages of it. Anyway, a few songs -- "Noel Novelettes", "Bulabulow" and the vocal "It's Christmas Time" -- are really great. Even though Mr. Shearing's wonderful, warbling voice is much better in person than on the CD, it's nevertheless a heartfelt rendering and beautifully arranged. I'm such a big Shearing fan and try to catch him whenever he's in the Washington, D.C. area. Even went to Carnegie this summer just to see him (and as a special treat, Diana Krall opened for him). Anyway, just thought I would comment on your web message. Take care.

 

Date:	19-Nov-1998 21:55:32
From:	Bob the Slob
	"Merry Christmas Baby" ("Blues"?) by Charles Brown. Actually, I can't think of the right name of the piece or if I got the right name of the swell man singing, but now that you remind me, I can hear that funky Xmas blues rolling in my head. I have'nt heard a Chanaka blues yet, or even one for bar mitzvas.

 

Date:	20-Nov-1998 12:34:03
From:	Marc (marcbuch@uclink4.berkeley.edu)
	Has anyone heard Ella's "Swinging Christmas"? If so how is it?

 

Date:	20-Nov-1998 18:00:14
From:	Ken Stitzel (ks@fc.hp.com)
	I would second the recommendations for Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and add David Grisman's "Acoustic Christmas" as another classic. Grisman's "dawg music" (bluegrass jazz) interpretations add a lot of life into the Christmas standards. It has held up well to years of listening.

 

Date:	21-Nov-1998 01:56:40
From:	John Hurst (hurstcastle@webtv.net)
	There are some many great Holiday CD's it's impossible for me to pick one. I've narrowed it down to four(4). Two by the Tom Kubis big band: "It's Not Just For Christmas Anymore" and "You Just Can't Have Enough Christmas". "The Trilogy Big Band Does Christmas" is really a great jazz Holiday CD. It features Bill Crain's Trilogy Big Band from Kansas City. And my favorite vocal is "Beachfront Property". Seven voices. Very creative and fresh. Their CD "A Beachfront Christmas" is pure joy.

 

Date:	21-Nov-1998 02:16:55
From:	Vicki (vicki@uab.campus.mci.net)
	My personal favorite is Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Watching the show was probably the first time I heard jazz in the holiday vein. I'm also pretty fond of "Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas". On a contemporary note, I also think "Breath of Heaven" by Grover Washington Jr. is a great one. I also love The Manhattan Transfer's "The Christmas Album".

 

Date:	21-Nov-1998 21:32:53
From:	Dave Hughes (jazz_fanatic@hotmail.com)
	The Singers Unlimited, "Christmas" The Glenn Miller Orchestra, "In the Christmas Mood" And several anthologies: "Jazz to the World" (on Blue Note) "A Brasilian Christmas" (on Astor Place) "GRP Christmas Collection" Volumes 1 & 2 Patti Austin's rendition of "Christmastime is Here" (from the Peanuts special) on Vol. 2 is absolutely the best take on this tune there is. And now a shameless plug: my December Contemporary Jazz column will be devoted to new Christmas CDs and some other old favorites... Happy Holidays, everyone!

 

Date:	22-Nov-1998 02:05:42
From:	Paul Abella (Pabella3@aol.com)
	tow compilations for your listening pleasure... Yule Struttin' Yule Be Boppin" Both are on Blue Note. The Yule Struttin' album may be worth the time if for nothing else the Monk Christmas tune and the Scofield version of the Chipmunk Song. Yule Be Boppin has the Babs Gonzalez version of the Night Before Christmas. worth it, baby...

 

Date:	23-Nov-1998 17:05:20
From:	Nneka Eldridge (eldridgen@usa.net)
	My favorite christmas song is Coletrans version "A Few of My Favorite Things" and "What do the Lonely do For Christmas," by the Emotions

 

Date:	24-Nov-1998 04:06:51
From:	Jim Smith (JimSmith@port.ac.uk)
	The 1968 album,"Christmas with the Swingle Singers,I sometimes play it in June....HONEST!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL >HO HO HO>

 

Date:	01-Dec-1998 08:34:22
From:	Karen Angela Moore (mooretunes@aol.com)
	Ella's Swinging Christmas is great and alot of fun. The arrangements swing and I'm a sucker for big band stuff at Christmas with all of the sleigh bells. Our Holiday selection is HUGE...we party hearty...here are a few of my faves... ** CHRISTMAS COCKTAILS - Capitol - Ultra Lounge Les Brown, Fred Waring, Jackie Gleason, Peggy Lee, etc. ** THE CHRISTMAS SONGS - Nat King Cole - Capitol Pure class

 

Date:	01-Dec-1998 08:41:57
From:	Karen Angela Moore (mooretunes@aol.com)
	I pressed send tooooo soon! ** LET'S SHARE CHRISTMAS TOGETHER - John Pizzarelli - RCA GREAT big band stuff...John's got a swinging original on it called "Santa Claus is Near" ** WHITE CHRISTMAS - Rosemary Clooney - Concord All the faves including some kids stuff - Rudolph etc. - 21 cuts and really nice ** A VERY CHERRY CHRISTMAS - Laserlight - Dinah Washington, Bobby Helms, Bill Haley, and Otis Redding on White Christmas is to die for... ** SANTA CLAUS BLUES - Jass Records - Canada GREAT disc. Victoria Spivey doing "Christmas Morning Blues" - Ozie Ware with Duke Ellington's Hot Five doing "Santa Claus, Bring my man back" and Fats Waller on "Swingin' them jingle bells!" There's more...Louis Armstrong, Woody Herman, Al Bowlly, it's really fab...and 23 cuts!!!!!!

 

Date:	03-Dec-1998 10:31:01
From:	Jennifer Layne (jennifer.layne@awl.com)
	Marc your question about Ella's "Swinging Christmas"-this is my one standard, favorite, always present Christmas CD. I grew up decorating the house and smelling holiday cooking while this music played (along with sarah and dinah). This is a must for all collections on holiday music-it is smooth, seductive and full of holiday cheer--Ella's vocals are at there best (early 60's). Run and buy it. I no longer make copies for friends they all own

 

Date:	05-Dec-1998 10:35:34
From:	Dan Sermeno (ramtrane@soca.com)
	No one even close, Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas, Baby". Also, Eartha Kitt did something along the lines of "Santa Baby" or something similar.

 

Date:	09-Dec-1998 11:38:48
From:	Jeff Turton (turton@csps.com)
	Various Artists: Hipsters Holiday Various Artists: Blame It On Christmas 917 Weird Yuletide Classics) Various Artists: Christmas Blues This is one that's on Rhino) Various Artists: Eddie G's Christmas Party Various Artists: Mas, A Christmas Celebtration and on a more traditional note: Vince Guaraldi: Charlie Brown Christmas

 

Date:	09-Dec-1998 16:46:46
From:	Jay (Schmidt@gdc.com)
	Dave McKenna "Christmas Ivory" on Concord is as good as they come. I have yet to hear a better instrumental Christmas recording. It is that good. Trust me.

 

Date:	17-Dec-1998 15:36:50
From:	horn player
	Nat Cole's "The Christmas Song" is legendary -- and beautiful, but I don't much care for the rest of the album...Too bad. My favorite Jazz Holiday Album is Joe Williams' "That Holiday Feelin'" -- No one has mentioned that at all. I can't believe none of you have it or have heard it! All-time favorite Christmas recording, however, is the London pressing of Leontyne Price. I wish it would be reissued on cd. She sings some unaccompanied spirituals, and BOTH Ave Marias, topped off by the Mozart Alleluia! It's the best!

 

Date:	30-Jul-1999 16:43:03
From:	jim
	I like the Vince Guaraldi one. Last Christmas we had it on the cd player, with the repeat function, all day long and nobody complained, it was so fitting. Also, I'm not a big fan of Wynton, but his Crescent City Christmas has always been my favorite of his albums (in fact the only one I listen to year to year, even though he says, "On Donder, on Blitzen" instead of "Donner.") It has a sort of Dukish sound.

 

Date:	13-Aug-1999 23:30:47
From:	James
	I like Grand Funk Railroad's Christmas album called "Merry Daze." Whenever I put it on it does get noticed - perks up a slow Christmas afternoon, especially the live cuts with guest vocalist and guitarist Alice Cooper. Check it out, man.

 

Date:	02-Sep-1999 16:21:25
From:	ladybop
	The Inner Voices have two Christmas albums out--beautiful accapella four part harmony arrangements by Morgan Ames. I think it's distributed by Rhino.

 

Date:	24-Oct-1999 10:18:24
From:	Joe
	"It's a Be-Bop Chistmas" with the Bugsy Ipsell Trio (Oscar Pettiford & Kenny Clarke). There's a great triple time bop version of Jingle Bells that'll knock your socks off. During the 50s this was a best selling record before Ipsell's tragic bicycle accident.

 

Date:	16-Mar-2000 19:35:38
From:	Genevieve
	Harry Connick Jr.'s, When My Heart Finds Christmas..... I really love "I Pray On Christmas" and "Must Have Been Old Santa" Hari Bol!

 

Date:	17-Aug-2000 23:37:37
From:	Don
	Ira Ironstrings Plays Santa Claus - have never seen it on CD

 

Date:	27-Aug-2000 19:12:02
From:	Kim Taylor (KimTaylorpr@aol.com)
	Don't forget your music on Halloween, also a holiday, and there's nothing spookier that the scary swing stylings of Lee Press-On and the Nails. With Zoot suits, high energy and a fun twist, Lee Press-On and the Nails takes swing to a new dimension featuring the exotic, somewhat gothic ringleader, Mr. Lee Press-On, and the lovely Leslie Presley on vocals. CDs for sale at www.swingordie.org.

 

Date:	20-Nov-2000 00:19:17
From:	Jack (bashjack@aol.com)
	Ira Ironstrings Plays Santa Claus was my all time favorite also! I lost it to a girlfriend 15 years ago. Boy, I miss that record. Any clue where I could find another? (album not girlfriend)

 

Date:	04-Dec-2000 13:40:45
From:	M Tesoriero
	Wynton Marsalis Crescent City Christmas. Heavenly version of Silent Night,plus a lot of fun joyous playing on other Xmas classics.

 

Date:	19-Jan-2001 03:31:16
From:	Seezor (SEEZOR@hotmail.com)
	My absolute fav is from Charlie Browns Christmas "Christmas Time is Here". But in high school and college we wrote our own arrangements and came up with things like "Deck the little Drummer boy in the halls" and others. I am looking for a piece by Quincy Jones from the 60's or 70's that really swings. If any one know of it Please Email me.

 

Date:	02-Mar-2001 16:11:31
From:	shari53
	Love Ella's Swingin' Christmas, Eartha singing Santa Baby, and Louis Armstrong's Is That you, Santa Claus?

 

Date:	06-Jul-2001 22:39:36
From:	Rob
	Wynton Marsalis "Crescent City Christmas" is excellent. Check out some of the excellent wind voicings and harmonizations.