What’s your “Recommended Buys” for Yuletide/Christmas/Seasonal music?

I would be remiss in not suggesting this very fine Christmas album, and not just because I'm lucky enough to have contributed a track to it:


Jazzy Wonderland




I'm truly fortunate to be in the company of musicians such as Tony Bennett, Dexter Gordon, Nancy Wilson, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Grover Washington Jr., Richard Tee, Terrance Blanchard, Ross Traut, and Steve Rodby, among others.

Perhaps surprising to some, Harry Connick Jr. turns in a great piano performance on Branford's version of Some Children See Him. Say what you will about Connick, he can really play the piano ... on this track he sort of sounds like Herbie Hancock.

The track I contributed was a collaboration with guitarist Ross Traut and bassist Steve Rodby (from the Pat Metheny Group as well as from my own albums). It's our version of The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), which moves from my own reharmonization to one by Traut, passing through a bass solo on the Nat King Cole arrangement, and ending up again with my reharmonization.

I hope you dig it.

All the best,
Fred

Thanks, Fred!

Sounds very good on spotify...

I managed to order up a pre-owned copy via Amazon for a couple of quid.

Bit of a bargain i'd say! : )

Debs

And this, which I inexplicably omitted

I always play this when I'm in the festive mood;

+1 for Cantate Domino

If you can find it...



Ghosts of Christmas Past

BE LP Les Disques Du Crepuscule TWI 158

SIDE A
Hillcrest Club - Breakfast At Christmas
Antena - Noelle A Hawaii
The French Impressionists - Santa Baby
The Pale Fontains - Benoit's Christmas
Winston Tong - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Mikado - Message De Noel
SIDE B
Aztec Camera - Hot Club Of Christ
The Names - Tokyo Twilight
Paul Haig - Christiania
The Durutti Column - One Christmas For Your Thoughts
Tuxedomoon - Weihnachts Rap
Cabaret Voltaire - Invocation
Mania D - Stille Nacht Goes Disco

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by naim_nymph:



Thanks, Fred!

Sounds very good on spotify...

I managed to order up a pre-owned copy via Amazon for a couple of quid.

Bit of a bargain i'd say! : )

Debs

You're quite welcome, Debs.

I hope you'll consider buying a brand new copy or two to give as Christmas presents, and help contribute to my daughter's shoe fund!

All best,
Fred

Well its Dylan!

Been sampling on spotify, and this is a hoot...

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Break out the eggnog & Soul every year.
"Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto" has to be contender for all time Best Song Title.

Dang . . . can't get the image to work.

For me, it just isn't Christmas without The Messiah.

So many wonderful performances available it's hard to choose a definitive favourite. On CD it's usually McCreesh on Archiv. On vinyl... possibly Hogwood on L'Oiseau Lyre or Beecham with this gorgeous early RCA Stereo Soria release. The librettos on all the Sorias are simply beautiful and the performances and sound quality are a revelation. Only downside is that they are all quite hard to find and usually expensive when you do so.

Surprised nobody has mentioned this one ....

On a slightly classier note . . .

Or . . .

And also . . .

The "Oratorio de Noel" from Camile Saint-Saens is a must have.

Especially if you enjoy it from your Naim gear during a cold and snowy night, together with a good claret and a cozy woodfire place.

The Carus label has it as a hybrid multichannel SACD. However, it sounds magnificient on my CD2.



The Fat Cat

I don't think this has much to do with the festive season in particular,
but i usually get it out this time of year.

Feels very appropriate : )

Debs

At 22.95 plus P&P on amazon its a bargain as well!

Dave

Been sampling this on spotify...

Ramsey Lewis Trio ~ Sound Of Christmas

sounds v good, available from play.com for £6.12 (Digipak) (Remaster)

trouble is i've started listening to other albums of the Ramsey Lewis Trio...

i could spend a small fortune collecting these!

Debs

Picked this up in Oxfam today for 99p! Yo ho ho!