Various Artists - Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas

Jazzy Little Christmas

I recommend this to anyone that likes smooth jazz and wants mood music for Christmas gatherings. It helps make Christmas parties seem more festive. December 1, 2008

Smooth, nostalgic

I have been listening to this cd every Christmas since my parents first got it when in 1996 I was 10 years old. I could never tire of the smooth, warm jazz. It is the perfect soundtrack for a snowy evening by the fire and lit tree, cuddled under a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. November 7, 2006

Holiday music by some of the legends of American jazz.

There's something for everyone on this wonderfully eclectic recording, which ranges from Oscar Peterson's almost lullaby-like piano on "A Child is Born" to Bill Evans's jazzy piano improvisations (overdubbed) on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and Sister Rosetta Tharpe's "O, Little Town of Bethlehem," a full-out, hand-clapping, rocking and stomping Gospel song. Containing both vocals and instrumentals, with arrangements which vary from softly sweet to full-out wailing, this CD is full of delightful surprises to keep the Christmas repertoire fresh.

Three of the songs here feature Ella Fitzgerald. "The Secret of Christmas" and "White Christmas," both of which she sings "pure," are soft, slow ballads filled with sweetness, while "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," with its quick beat, provides a jazzy close-out for the album. Dinah Washington's "Ole Santa" and "Silent Night" take the opposite tack from Ella, as she sings with strength and verve--and absolutely no sweetness! Billie Holiday's "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," not exactly a Christmas song, features solos by the great Benny Carter on clarinet and Sweets Edison on muted trumpet.

Roland Kirk's "We Free Kings," the most highly improvised song on the album, features Kirk on flute and wailing sax, accompanied by an insistent drumbeat. And my favorite--Jimmy Smith's "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is the greatest version of this song I've ever heard, opening with jazz tuba and drums (and sounding like giants walking), then introducing trumpets and a wonderful Smith organ solo, which soars into the stratosphere. A terrific album for the jazz lover at Christmas time, this CD showcases some of the pioneers of American jazz. Mary Whipple
December 5, 2004

Great Christmas CD

This is one of our favorite Christmas CDs year after year. It's a great collection of some classic performances. December 4, 2003

To my knowledge, the best jazz Christmas disc around

A great eclectic mix of both vocal and instrumental jazz. Dinah Washington's voice makes for a strangely stirring "Silent Night," and Ella's "Secret of Christmas" might just be the most gorgeous Christmas recording ever. December 11, 1999

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