Holiday Gift Guide 2012 [ Cds By Frank-John Hadley This year, Santa’s bag holds many new and reissued holiday-music releases that are soaked in sentimental slush. There are, of course, a few albums of palatable good cheer. Some of these recordings are full of such ringing sincerity that even the sourest of Scrooges are impressed. On the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra’s Christmas Time Is Here (band-released; 65:49 HHHH), the 25-piece juggernaut injects holiday favorites and surprising selections such as the spiritual “Children, Go Where I Send You” with swinging spirit. With ace trumpeter Vance Thompson conducting, KJO steers clear of mechanical yuletide routinism. Tenorman Will Boyd, with guests Dan Trudell on B3 and Tim Green and Greg Tardy on saxophones, displays inventive fluency at any tempo. Singing by Jill Andrews and two church choirs further gladdens the listener’s heart. Ordering info: knoxjazz.org Since 1965, millions of folks have made the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy 34027; 49:52 HHH1/2) part of their annual holiday. With Guaraldi’s disposition for drawing out the light lyricism in familiar carols or his own compositions, the pianist merges jazz, pop and classical for delightful results. The newest edition of this classic includes two unneeded Thanksgiving ditties and a welcomed, informative essay by Guaraldi biographer Derrick Bang. Ordering info: concordmusicgroup.com The David Diggs-produced Shades Of Christmas (The Gold Label 82052; 49:48 HHH) includes Yellowjacket Russell Ferrante’s trio, trumpeter Bobby Rodriquez and trombonist Bob McChesney, who gather around the tree for engaging treatments of predictable fare. Vocalist Halie Loren and pianist Matt Treder have recorded the perfect type of tender-hearted, jazz-tinged Christmas music to accompany tree trimming. Many Times, Many Ways (Justin Time 8553; 38:15 HHH1/2) pleases for the duo’s refined but not affected expositions of Christmas melodies. Ordering info: goldlabelartists.com; justin-time.com For nine years, drummer Denzal Sinclaire, saxophonist Cory Weeds and B3 player Chris Gestrin have joined together under the name B-3 Kings for sold-out shows of Christmas-themed soul-jazz at Vancouver nightclub The Cellar. On You Better Watch Out! (Cellar Live 082511; 59:00 HHH), they and guitarist Bill Coon respond with creative alacrity to wintry favorites and relative obscurities like “Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella.” Ordering info: cellarjazz.com On the offbeat compilation titled Santa’s Got Mojo 2 (Electro-Fi 3432; 43:55 HHH), provocative singer Shakura S’Aida wants her ashes hauled (“Be My Santa Claus”), and Harrison Kennedy waxes emotional about a child awaiting Santa (“Hot Cider Cinnamon”). One-man-band Paul Oscher makes no bones about the painful loneliness some people feel at Christmastime (“Christmas Blues”). Ordering info: electrofi.com Legacy’s new Elvis Presley collection, The Classic Christmas Album (RCA/Legacy 88725; 46:12 HHH1/2) takes a few tracks from previous Presley holiday albums and adds two tracks from the phony 2008 Elvis Presley Christmas Duets album.The performance for the ages is Presley’s version of Charles Brown blues “Merry Christmas Baby,” with James Burton out to kill on guitar. Ordering info: store.legacyrecordings.com Perhaps the most stirring Christmas gospel music release of the year is Christmas With Earnest Pugh & Friends (EPM Music 45; 45:57 HHH1/2). Pugh’s great voice, pliable over several octaves, is unshakable in its declarations of faith and its joy over the birth of Jesus. Lisa Knowles and six more lead singers are showcased, but the supporting r&b-gospel band sometimes undercuts the heaven-bound vocals. Ordering info: epmmusicgroup.com Outside Santa’s domain, singer Mama Doni honors Hanukkah with Get Cooking! (Behrman House; 53:22 HHH1/2). Doni pairs a 128-page spiral-bound family cookbook with a 29-track CD of original songs, with lyrics set to pop, rock, folk, country, or Bo Diddley r&b. Pass the latkes. DB Ordering info: behrmanhouse.com 64 DOWNBEAT DECEMBER 2012
DECEMBER 2012 DOWNBEAT 65