Christmas Songs With the Ray Brown Trio

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Ray Brown's got the right idea about making Christmas music: swing it, shout it, blues it up and down, riff with it, and, above all, never let it become boring. With a handful of top-line jazz vocalists on board, and a sax and guitar sitting in with the trio, he and his cool company can't miss the mirth of improvising or the mistletoe magic of rejuvenating a baker's dozen seasonal standards. Dee Dee Bridgewater demonstrates her versatility on "Away in a Manager" while the sublime Diana Krall scats with the creeping bass line on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." With Nancy King, Etta Jones, Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Rubin, and Kevin Mahogany singing, Brown delivers the goods musically (just check out his lyrical work on "Rudolph."). --Martin Keller

Tracks:

Away In A Manger
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Little Drummer Boy
The Christmas Song
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Winter Wonderland
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
O Tannenbaum
Jingle Bells
White Christmas
The Christmas Rap

Amazon.com

Ray Brown's got the right idea about making Christmas music: swing it, shout it, blues it up and down, riff with it, and, above all, never let it become boring. With a handful of top-line jazz vocalists on board, and a sax and guitar sitting in with the trio, he and his cool company can't miss the mirth of improvising or the mistletoe magic of rejuvenating a baker's dozen seasonal standards. Dee Dee Bridgewater demonstrates her versatility on "Away in a Manager" while the sublime Diana Krall scats with the creeping bass line on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." With Nancy King, Etta Jones, Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Rubin, and Kevin Mahogany singing, Brown delivers the goods musically (just check out his lyrical work on "Rudolph."). --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

A must buy.......2001-12-06

Looking for a christmas cd that has a great mix of singers, excellent bouncy jazzy tunes but not excessively jazzed up so much so that it doesn't sound like a christmas album at all (like some other jazz christmas albums)? Get this! I highly recommend it. I'll probably be listening to it long after christmas as well!

It put even ME in the Christmas spirit.......1999-12-29

I don't particularly like jazz, or even Christmas music. Heck, I don't even much care for Christmas itself. But I bought this CD for a jollier friend, and after listening to it, I wanted it for myself. I even felt that elusive Christmas spirit and wanted to run right out and buy presents and put up a tree and all that. Some other reviewer said something cool like "every track grooves". My sentiments exactly.

Very Festive.......1999-12-22

Those familiar with Ray will expect the usual incredible musicianship and will not be disappointed. Also, the typical Ray arrangements where he teases you with a few riffs before sinking into a swinging groove - then back to the riff etc.

This CD is particularly festive because of the mix of singers - 'The Christmas Song' by Kevin Mahogany alone is well worth the price of the CD.

If you like great drumming, check out the Little Drummer Boy.

These recordings are very much what you expect from Ray - many surprises. This CD will sit at the top of our Christmas CD stack along with Vince Guaraldi's Charie Brown Christmas and Frank's Christmas CD.

-GR4

Great!.......1999-12-14

I can't really add anything substantive; I just LOVE this CD. It's so nice to hear a new take on these very familiar songs. It's a great collection, lively, well-done and festive. Great for a holiday party or just as background for addressing Christmas cards. Enjoy!

Ray does it again. Another stellar recording.......1999-11-02

Another excellent recording by "The Bassist." Ray continues to play super and has the ability to draw out the best in his young players. The addition of stars like Diana Krall, Shaw, Jones and Malone make this a top jazz Christmas recording of 1999. If you love Ray Brown's music and Christmas standards nicely arranged, get this one. It'll put you in the spirit!

Music:

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