It's that time of year again, when I introduce you to the newest member of the JazzWax Vintage Holiday Album Hall of Fame. This is the Hall's 13th season. Just think, kids who were born the year I started this feature are now getting their braces removed. Time flies.
My choice this year is guitarist Joe Negri's Guitars for Christmas (2003). A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Negri recorded just four albums as a leader, most of them for Pittsburgh's nonprofit MCG Jazz label. The album features Negri and Marty Ashby on guitars, but it's so beautiful and sensitive you'd think the ensemble was larger. Negri is perhaps best known as “Handyman Negri" from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, a show that featured another towering and tasteful Pittsburgh jazz musician—pianist Johnny Costa. When he wasn't fixing things on children's television, Negri taught at Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University. He's still with us today. You'll find Guitars for Christmas here
Here's Christmas Time Is Here...
Now meet the rest of the gang, in order of their year of induction, with links to buy or sample. Most are probably also available at Spotify...
2019—Christmas With the George Shearing Quintet (2003).
2018—Gap Mangione's Family Holidays (2005).
2017—Doris Day: Complete Christmas Collection. (1964).
2016—Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960).
2015—Two albums with the same name: Bobby Timmons' Holiday Soul and Don Patterson's Holiday Soul Both trio albums were recorded for Prestige in Nov. 1964—the former on the 24th and the latter on the 25th.
2014—Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass: Christmas Album (1968).
2013—Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's That Holiday Feeling! (1964).
Here are albums that have already been inducted into the JazzWax Holiday Album Hall of Fame...
2012—Duke Pearson: Merry Ole Soul (1969).
2011—Urbie Green: A Cool Yule Tide (1954).
2010—Eddie Higgins: Christmas Songs (2004).
2009—June Christy: This Time of Year (1961).
2008—Jo Stafford's Happy Holidays: I Love the Winter Weather (1950s).
My choice this year is guitarist Joe Negri's Guitars for Christmas (2003). A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Negri recorded just four albums as a leader, most of them for Pittsburgh's nonprofit MCG Jazz label. The album features Negri and Marty Ashby on guitars, but it's so beautiful and sensitive you'd think the ensemble was larger. Negri is perhaps best known as “Handyman Negri" from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, a show that featured another towering and tasteful Pittsburgh jazz musician—pianist Johnny Costa. When he wasn't fixing things on children's television, Negri taught at Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon University. He's still with us today. You'll find Guitars for Christmas here
Here's Christmas Time Is Here...
Now meet the rest of the gang, in order of their year of induction, with links to buy or sample. Most are probably also available at Spotify...
2019—Christmas With the George Shearing Quintet (2003).
2018—Gap Mangione's Family Holidays (2005).
2017—Doris Day: Complete Christmas Collection. (1964).
2016—Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas (1960).
2015—Two albums with the same name: Bobby Timmons' Holiday Soul and Don Patterson's Holiday Soul Both trio albums were recorded for Prestige in Nov. 1964—the former on the 24th and the latter on the 25th.
2014—Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass: Christmas Album (1968).
2013—Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme's That Holiday Feeling! (1964).
Here are albums that have already been inducted into the JazzWax Holiday Album Hall of Fame...
2012—Duke Pearson: Merry Ole Soul (1969).
2011—Urbie Green: A Cool Yule Tide (1954).
2010—Eddie Higgins: Christmas Songs (2004).
2009—June Christy: This Time of Year (1961).
2008—Jo Stafford's Happy Holidays: I Love the Winter Weather (1950s).
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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