j-notes.com » Christmas

Clairdee’s 8th Annual Christmas Show at Yoshi’s San Francisco on Christmas Eve!

James — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:01:18 +0000

I cannot think of a better way to start off your Christmas than to see Clairdee’s 8th Annual Christmas Show at Yoshi’s San Francisco on Christmas Eve. This show sells out quickly so please get your tickets soon. See you there!!!

Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad/Joyeux Noel!

James — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 13:12:58 +0000

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. My family and I are sending our biggest love to our mom!

Once again, Christmas has rolled around and I still have a ton of stuff to do. My Christmas cards are spread all over the table, I need to go to the grocery store, and cook dinner. Oh yeah, I even hope to get a Christmas music radio blog done… tonight!

Much love always,
James

Eric Reed – Merry Magic

James — Tue, 09 Dec 2003 12:07:32 +0000

Every year during the holiday season, I look for new music to add to my holiday music collection. We only get to enjoy this music for a short time and then it is time to put it away until the next year. This season I am enjoying the second release in the MAXJAZZ Holiday Series: Merry Magic by Eric Reed. Eric brings fresh new approaches to these holiday classics and swings hard on piano on such favorites as “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” which features Steve Nelson on vibes and “Winter Wonderland.” He sings excellently on “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and contributes his own swinging composition “Angels in the Snow” which includes Barak Mori walking the bass and Rodney Green keeping time on the drums. Eric is also joined by upcoming MAXJAZZ vocalist Erin Bode on wonderful renditions of “I Wonder As I Wander” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” Popular jazz and cabaret singer Paula West sings a playful rendition of “Santa Baby” and the reflective “After The Holidays.” His early roots of playing gospel music in his father’s storefont Baptist church are evident on “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” and “The Christmas Blues” which features Eric on solo piano and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)” with him on organ. “The Christmas Song” has a bit of a breezy and tropical feel but is very solid. Merry Magic will definitely make your spirits bright this holiday season and for years to come. Enjoy your music.

Flashback Friday – Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song

James — Fri, 05 Dec 2003 16:29:13 +0000

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping at your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
Help to make the season bright,
Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh,
And ev’ry mother’s child is gonna spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly.
And so I’m offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although it’s been said
Many times, Many ways
Merry Christmas to you.

For as long as I can remember, Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” has been a part of my holiday season. It does not feel like the holiday season to me until I hear those first few bars of “The Christmas Song.” Even in the midst of the season’s consumerism, I still enjoy the music the most.

“The Christmas Song” was introduced to Nat in May 1946 by singer/songwriter Mel Tormé. Nat loved the song and wanted to record it in a larger setting than his trio but Capitol Records was very reluctant about having strings on the recording. Nat convinced Capitol (aka “The House That Nat Built”) to let him record “The Christmas Song” with strings. The song was released in November 1946 and reached #3 on the pop and R&B charts. Capitol reissued it every holiday season for the next 7 years, and each year it would chart in the top 5. In 1953 Nat recorded it again, this time with Nelson Riddle conducting, and, of course, with many more than the four original strings. This version was reissued for the next 8 years. Then, in 1961, Nat recorded the stereo version, with Ralph Carmichael conducting. This was the last time he recorded it, and to the present time, this is the rendition that Capitol reissues regularly.

The Christmas Song, the album, came to life in 1960 but not without some resistance. Nat was very happy with just having “The Christmas Song.” He did not want to compete with the other popular holiday music of the day. He finally gave in to Capitol’s persuasion and recorded the album which we love today. I have always been fanscinated by the rich orchestrations and the 20 angelic voices that accompanied Nat’s honey-toned baritone voice. The album was reissued in 1999 and includes “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” which were never previously issued. It also includes the carefully engineered duet on “The Christmas Song” with his daughter, Natalie, which features a host of strings and other wonderful instruments from the London Symphony Orchestra. Dick LaPalm, who traveled with Nat for 13 years, provided the excellent liner notes for the reissue which were my personal history lesson about the making of this classic album. Enjoy your music.