It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Especially for those who love the sound of Christmas carols, whether it’s Mel Tormé or Mariah Carey, Mannheim Steamroller or Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Each year brings something new. And who knows, maybe one of this year’s new holiday music releases will become the next “Jingle Bells” or “All I Want For Christmas Is You”:
GEORGE GEE SWING ORCHESTRA – WINTER WONDERLAND: George Gee has led a swing band for more than 40 years, and for 30 years it’s been a fixture in the New York swing scene. That means it both predated and outlasted the (too-short) swing revival. Proof of its staying power is this zesty disc. True, the band stretches out so much that familiar fare is sometimes unrecognizable – “What Child Is This” is perhaps the best example, with the melody stated a couple times but generally lost amidst the soloing. On the other hand, the heavily Latinized “Winter Wonderland Mambo” has never sounded more full of life. Half the tunes include vocals, which work better in keeping the melody in mind. Bonus points for correctly punctuating “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.”
GREGORY PORTER – CHRISTMAS WISH: Gregory Porter’s voice has been called “a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth,” and that’s a pretty good way to describe it. This album includes not only some of the usual suspects (“Silent Night,” “Do You Hear What I Hear”), but unexpected choices like Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes” and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas.” On another of the lesser-known tunes, “Christmas Waltz,” the clever wordplay – “And this song of mine, in three quarter time, wishes you the same thing too” – is sure to bring a smile to your face. Along with that killer voice, Gregory Porter has also written three new holidayesque tunes.
TED NASH AND KRISTEN LEE SERGEANT – HOLIDAYS: Ted Nash is a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer, and Kristen Lee Sergeant is a vocalist and songwriter. The collaborative couple – yes, they’re married – are joined by a 15-piece big band, providing plenty of highlights. As long as you’re not expecting too traditional an outing. Bob Dourough’s offbeat “Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)” gets additional lyrics from Sergeant and three – count ’em, three – trombone solos. Not your typical holiday fare. It’s brilliantly done, but a touch too out there to put on for background music while you unwrap presents.
KIRK PASICH PROJECT, featuring SCOUT DURWOOD – A SCOUT DURWOOD CHRISTMAS: It’s a rollicking party at Durwood’s home this year, at least according to “Ain’t Nothing Like Christmas.” The self-described “existential comedian who sings” is by turns tender (“Snowman”), somber (an indie-rock cover of the Killers’ “Christmas In L.A.”) and raucous (the aforementioned “Ain’t Nothing”). She adds some additional lyrics to the concluding “White Christmas” explaining the lack of snow in Los Angeles. It almost makes you feel sorry for those who don’t experience a frosty holiday.
SAMARA JOY – A JOYFUL CHRISTMAS: The heralded newcomer, winner of Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and for Best New Artist, Samara Joy delivers an EP of ho-ho-holiday treats. She gives “O Holy Night” a very gospelish treatment, complete with organ and additional vocalists, no surprise given her church background (her father toured as a vocalist with Andrae Crouch). That contrasts with a swinging but sparse approach to “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” with bass, guitar and drums (with brushes!). The title track dates back decades, though little known. Maybe this version will change that.
KINGS RETURN – WE FOUR KINGS: The holidays seem especially appropriate for groups with multiple singers and few, if any, instruments. Witness the popularity of Straight No Chaser, the Nylons, Accent and Pentatonix, among others. You can add Kings Return to the list. Their Kings Return includes a bevy of holiday treats, even enlisting other vocalists. Such as Christie Dashiell on a delightful “Let it Snow.” Their wordless vocalizing on “The Kings Nutcracker Suite” is especially enjoyable.
GEORGE BURTON – THE YULE LOG: Pianist George Burton doesn’t waste any time letting the listener know this is a different jazz take on the holidays, with violinist Diane Monroe and violist Veronica Jurkiewicz sawing away on the Catalan carol “Fum Fum Fum” that opens the disc. “Christmas Time Is Here” showcases the lustrous vocals of Nancy Harms and the string players, while a strident “Auld Lang Syne” will send revelers out into the night. Those inclined to more familiar holiday norms may find these off-putting.
THE TENORS – CHRISTMAS WITH THE TENORS: The Canadian quartet exchanges its mix of opera and pop for the sounds of the season. The Tenors are at their best on the classic “Christmas Time Is Here” (I’m sensing a theme here), where they trade off leads. The singers are accompanied by an orchestra, but the focus remains on their voices, as it should be. You’d think a quartet of singers wouldn’t need any more voices, but Natasha St-Pier joins on the French “Petit Papa Noel,” while the addition of Ekaterina Shelehova on “Snowman” is the icing on the cake.
ADAM HAWLEY – WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME: Guitarist Adam Hawley comes across as a latter-day George Benson on the opening “Jingle Bells,” while the following “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” offers a funky take on the holiday staple. He employs some vocalists as well, with L. Young’s take on “What Christmas Means To Me” and wife Kat Hawley’s gospelish take on “Mary Did You Know,” with Adam’s acoustic guitar set against a synth backdrop. Unfortunately the programmed finger snaps on the latter are really intrusive. Other than that misstep, he seems right at home for the holidays.
CHRISTIAN SANDS – CHRISTMAS STORIES: A decidedly bluesy take on “Jingle Bells” opens the pianist’s new recording, based (according to the liner notes) on Miles Davis’s “All Blues.” More surprises await: Halfway through “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” Sands and company veer from jazz to Latin swing. Even more outré is “Silent Night,” which grows more and more strident, with some twangy guitar punctuated by cymbals. At the other end of the spectrum is an introspective “Last Christmas.” Wham’s melancholy tune is taken at a slower tempo, with strings complementing Christian Sands’ gentle piano. Sands also adds three originals to the holiday canon.
STEPHANIE J. BLOCK – MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING: The theater star, best known for portraying Elphaba in touring and Broadway versions of Wicked, goes all out on this recording, with orchestra recreating the lush sounds popularized by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Henry Mancini. Though it’s a safe bet Mancini never essayed a bluegrassy/hot jazz holiday tune, as Stephanie J. Block does here with “And Snow.” The title track, originally by the Carpenters, receives a glorious orchestral treatment. Block’s lustrous voice is powerful throughout, but not overpowering. Like eggnog, it’s a sweet holiday treat.
JOHN PAUL McGEE – A GOSPELJAZZICAL CHRISTMAS: A taste of jazz, gospel and classical, all in one place? Yes, please. Berklee professor and pianist John Paul McGee quotes Chick Corea’s “Spain” opening and throughout “Emmanuel.” In the first 30 seconds of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” he’s already changed the tempo three times. Yet it works, as does the rest of this entertaining recording. “Go Tell It On The Mountain” provides much of the gospel feeling, particularly with McGee’s vocals, with “Jesus, What A Wonderful Child” with female voices a close second.
HAUSER – CHRISTMAS: For those who prefer classical sounds for the season, Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser offers his first holiday recording. Few instruments offer the range of the cello, and Hauser plumbs its emotional depth. “O Holy Night” is one of the standout tracks. He takes “Angels We Have Heard On High” at a slightly slower tempo than most versions. The instrumental version of “The Christmas Song” is another winner, as is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Pairing his cello with orchestra is a delight.
NILS LANDGREN – CHRISTMAS WITH MY FRIENDS VIII: The eighth holiday outing from Swedish jazz-funk trombonist Nils Landgren is a mixed bag of holiday goodies. There’s the surprising “Most of All,” recalling the sounds of Rosemary Clooney or the Andrews Sisters, with no trombone till a brief Dixieland-ish interlude and conclusion. The different vocalists bring a different mood to each track.
HOLIDAY SINGLES
Hey, there’s even some holiday singles out there, too:
JR Bohannon, JR Bohannon Plays Vince Guaraldi: Bohannon takes on two classics from the Peanuts specials. His steel guitar is less country and more akin to Hawaiian music. “Christmas Time Is Here” is all ringing overtones, while “Skating” is somewhat spooky and mysterious.
Erin Stevenson, “Christmas Time With You”: Bouncy and playful, this hummable track from R&B songstress Erin Stevenson could easily become a holiday staple. Next time out, how about a full album?
Shawn Raiford, “Santa Baby”: Raiford’s sax shines on this straightforward version that fortunately keeps the schmaltz to a minimum.
Mickey Thomas, A Classic Christmas: The Starship vocalist pairs two holiday staples for a digital single Dec. 1: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
ALSO NEW THIS YEAR: It’s Christmas, an EP from the always hip Tower of Power; Imani Records Holiday Extravaganza, a recording of the label artists performing a streaming Christmas Eve concert from their homes during the pandemic (available on Bandcamp); the bluesy Alligator Christmas Collection; and Michelle Malone and the Hot Toddies’ rollicking Toddie Time.
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