Christmas Jazz albums

Blue · November 23rd, 2005, 08:26 AM

Hello. Other then the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack there has to be other insturmental Christmas jazz recordings? If not, could you list some songs so I can make a mix. Thanks.

DMP · November 23rd, 2005, 08:37 AM

There are plenty, and I'm sure you'll get many good suggestions. A couple of obvious ones, which should be easy to find, are Kenny Burrell and Ramsey Lewis, both originally on Argo/Cadet and now part of the Verve "LPR" series. Jimmy Smith's "Christmas '64" was reissued recently - this time with the original title. One of my favorites is Wynton Marsalis' "Crescent City Christmas" - actually, it's about the only Marsalis album I like. One of the nicest individual selections is the MJQ's "England's Carol," found on "MJQ & Orchestra," now reissued on "Collectables." Also, there are many label anthologies available, the most famous probably Columbia's original "Jingle Bell Jazz," which is still around (in altered and updated) form.

mikelz777 · November 23rd, 2005, 08:47 AM

"An Oscar Peterson Christmas"

Hot Ptah · November 23rd, 2005, 08:54 AM

Cecil Taylor Unit--It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

Fran · November 23rd, 2005, 09:16 AM

One of the best for me - hated by purists- is Kenton's

JohnQ · November 23rd, 2005, 09:26 AM

I like the album Yule Struttin' on Bluenote.

Some good tracks including Joey Calderazzo playing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Rick Margitza playing a burning Little Drummer Boy
Chet Baker's Winter Wonderland is also pretty good amongst many others.

xricci · November 23rd, 2005, 09:27 AM

check out the holiday jazz reviews page at the site for additional suggestions.

a new personal fave is Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" by the Classical Jazz Quartet (Stefon Harris, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter & Lewis Nash) on Vertical Jazz.

JohnQ · November 23rd, 2005, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMP

One of my favorites is Wynton Marsalis' "Crescent City Christmas" - actually, it's about the only Marsalis album I like.

I really like the version of Twas The Night Before Christmas on this album. Wynton narrates the poem whilst the band plays suitable music behind. Not cheesy at all.

xricci · November 23rd, 2005, 09:31 AM

related topics...

Christmas Music--Praise or Condemn Here

Favorite Christmas Tune

What's your favorite holiday jazz recording?

PurpleTentacle · November 23rd, 2005, 09:40 AM

I like that Duke Pearson christmas album, "Merry Ole Soul". It's part of the Pearson Mosaic Select.

the magnificent goldberg · November 23rd, 2005, 10:42 AM

I've bought a few Christmas albums during the year - if it ain't good enough to listen to all the time...

Two I've had for a while that I always like are:

And there are two that I really would like them to reissue on CD:

MG

wordsandsounds · November 23rd, 2005, 11:04 AM

a decent little album of solo piano christmas songs from a wide range of people...

Deck the Halls
Dick Hyman 3:52
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Renee Rosnes 3:57
Away in a Manger
Mulgrew Miller 4:37
Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Jacky Terrason 2:47
What Child Is This?
Benny Green 4:15
O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree)
Junior Mance 3:19
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Ramsey Lewis 3:23
England's Carol
John Lewis 4:21
Jingle Bells "Soca"
Carla Bley 3:02
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Cedar Walton 3:44
The Christmas Song
Danilo Perez 5:04
O, Come All Ye Faithful
Cyrus Chestnut 4:27
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Joanne Brackeen 4:03
Christmas Time Is Here
Ellis Marsalis 4:41
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Harris II, Loston 4:14
White Christmas
Tommy Flanagan 3:12
Feliz Navidad
Michel Camilo 3:59

cdog · November 23rd, 2005, 06:23 PM

wow, we have several "on deck".........

but today we picked up on LP "A Stash Christmas" various Jazz compilations.....some dating back to 1925.

Dennis_M · November 23rd, 2005, 07:08 PM

I'm waiting for A Sun Ra Christmas. Guess it will never happen.

duaneiac · November 23rd, 2005, 07:56 PM

Some of my favorites (in addition to those already mentioned):

George Shearing Quintet

Tuba and banjo duets on Christmas music? YES!!!

Includes vintage holiday recordings by Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden and others

And while it's not an instrumental jazz album, this is one of the best holiday albums ever

I'll think of more once I get my big box of Christmas music out next week.

November 23rd, 2005, 08:26 AM	#1
Blue Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 178	Christmas Jazz albums Hello. Other then the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack there has to be other insturmental Christmas jazz recordings? If not, could you list some songs so I can make a mix. Thanks.

November 23rd, 2005, 09:16 AM	#5
Fran Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Florida - New York Posts: 4,656	One of the best for me - hated by purists- is Kenton's __________________ Keep the Blue Flame Burning

November 23rd, 2005, 09:27 AM	#7
xricci AAJ's Barrel Roller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 10,890	check out the holiday jazz reviews page at the site for additional suggestions. a new personal fave is Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" by the Classical Jazz Quartet (Stefon Harris, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter & Lewis Nash) on Vertical Jazz. __________________ Visit Jazz Near You and All About Jazz

November 23rd, 2005, 09:31 AM	#9
xricci AAJ's Barrel Roller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Lansdale, PA Posts: 10,890	related topics... Christmas Music--Praise or Condemn Here Favorite Christmas Tune What's your favorite holiday jazz recording? __________________ Visit Jazz Near You and All About Jazz

November 23rd, 2005, 07:08 PM	#14
Dennis_M Be Bop Lives! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Great Pacific Northwest Posts: 2,137	I'm waiting for A Sun Ra Christmas. Guess it will never happen. __________________ Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us. Bill Watterson

November 23rd, 2005, 08:37 AM	#2
DMP Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 136	There are plenty, and I'm sure you'll get many good suggestions. A couple of obvious ones, which should be easy to find, are Kenny Burrell and Ramsey Lewis, both originally on Argo/Cadet and now part of the Verve "LPR" series. Jimmy Smith's "Christmas '64" was reissued recently - this time with the original title. One of my favorites is Wynton Marsalis' "Crescent City Christmas" - actually, it's about the only Marsalis album I like. One of the nicest individual selections is the MJQ's "England's Carol," found on "MJQ & Orchestra," now reissued on "Collectables." Also, there are many label anthologies available, the most famous probably Columbia's original "Jingle Bell Jazz," which is still around (in altered and updated) form.

November 23rd, 2005, 08:47 AM	#3
mikelz777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The upper midwest. Posts: 2,058	"An Oscar Peterson Christmas"

November 23rd, 2005, 08:54 AM	#4
Hot Ptah Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 12,720	Cecil Taylor Unit--It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

November 23rd, 2005, 09:26 AM	#6
JohnQ Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cheshire Posts: 193	I like the album Yule Struttin' on Bluenote. Some good tracks including Joey Calderazzo playing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Rick Margitza playing a burning Little Drummer Boy Chet Baker's Winter Wonderland is also pretty good amongst many others.

November 23rd, 2005, 09:40 AM	#10
PurpleTentacle No room for squares Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 65	I like that Duke Pearson christmas album, "Merry Ole Soul". It's part of the Pearson Mosaic Select.

November 23rd, 2005, 10:42 AM	#11
the magnificent goldberg Grease and oily rag merchant Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tonyrefail (South Wales) Posts: 9,579	I've bought a few Christmas albums during the year - if it ain't good enough to listen to all the time... Two I've had for a while that I always like are: And there are two that I really would like them to reissue on CD: MG

November 23rd, 2005, 11:04 AM	#12
wordsandsounds listening Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 2,865	a decent little album of solo piano christmas songs from a wide range of people... Deck the Halls Dick Hyman 3:52 Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Renee Rosnes 3:57 Away in a Manger Mulgrew Miller 4:37 Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer Jacky Terrason 2:47 What Child Is This? Benny Green 4:15 O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) Junior Mance 3:19 Go Tell It on the Mountain Ramsey Lewis 3:23 England's Carol John Lewis 4:21 Jingle Bells "Soca" Carla Bley 3:02 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Cedar Walton 3:44 The Christmas Song Danilo Perez 5:04 O, Come All Ye Faithful Cyrus Chestnut 4:27 O Little Town of Bethlehem Joanne Brackeen 4:03 Christmas Time Is Here Ellis Marsalis 4:41 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Harris II, Loston 4:14 White Christmas Tommy Flanagan 3:12 Feliz Navidad Michel Camilo 3:59

November 23rd, 2005, 06:23 PM	#13
cdog Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 781	wow, we have several "on deck"......... but today we picked up on LP "A Stash Christmas" various Jazz compilations.....some dating back to 1925.

November 23rd, 2005, 07:56 PM	#15
duaneiac Player to be named later Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,854	Some of my favorites (in addition to those already mentioned): George Shearing Quintet Tuba and banjo duets on Christmas music? YES!!! Includes vintage holiday recordings by Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden and others And while it's not an instrumental jazz album, this is one of the best holiday albums ever I'll think of more once I get my big box of Christmas music out next week.

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