New Orleans Christmas

New Orleans Christmas
Putumayo · 2006 · 58,3 Mb

01. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Big Al Carson with Lars Edegran
02. Christmas in New Orleans - James Andrews
03. 'Zat You, Santa Claus? - Ingrid Lucia
04. Silver Bells - Heritage Hall Jazz Band with Gregg Stafford
05. I'll Be Home For Christmas - B. Gibson & The NO Hot Jazz
06. Please Come Home for Christmas - Papa Don Vappie's
07. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Ellis Marsalis
08. White Christmas - John Boutté
09. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Topsy Chapman
10. Santa's Second Line - New Birth Brass Band
11. Holiday Time in New Orleans - Dukes of Dixieland




Pass: jazzcompilation




From the liner notes
New Orleans residents celebrate Christmas with customs that are both old and new, borrowed and invented. The faithful still attend Christmas Eve mass at St. Louis Cathedral in the Vieux Carre, or French Quarter. In olden days, this would be followed by a long, elaborate dinner known as reveillon, a meal that is still served in parts of France and Canada. Today, many of New Orleans' finest restaurants offer reveillon throughout December.

Twinkling electric lights and flickering holiday candles can be found everywhere in the city, recalling the French custom of fete des lumieres, when candles are placed in the windows of every house in a village. In downtown New Orleans, the block-long lobby of the Fairmont Hotel is dressed every year in a cloud-like canopy of angel hair and holiday lights, while in New Orleans' City Park, strings of more than two million lights decorate the limbs of the majestic old oak trees.

All along the bayous of the countryside outside New Orleans, bonfires known as feux de joie are lit on Christmas Eve-reminding residents of their European ancestors and providing Pere Noel with enough light to find every child's home.

The music of New Orleans at Christmas time also reflects this love for making holiday traditions new again. Well-known songs are sung with a different feeling, while newly composed songs fondly recall favorite holiday memories. The warmth of the holiday flavors, the unique character of the music; why, is the Christmas season so special to the people of New Orleans? Because it combines three basic elements-celebration, family gatherings, and generosity-all of which can be found in great abundance in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana.


Putumayo Presents A Jazz & Blues Christmas
Putumayo Presents Christmas Around The World

Alligator Christmas Collection

The Alligator Records Christmas Collection
Alligator · 1992 · 70,7 Mb

01. Merry, Merry Christmas - Koko Taylor
02. Christmas Time In The Country - Kenny Neal
03. I'm Your Santa - Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
04. Deck The Halls With Boogie Woogie - Katie Webster
05. Please Let Me Be Your Santa Claus - William Clarke
06. Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin' - Tinsley Ellis
07. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus - Charles Brown
08. Lonesome Christmas - Son Seals
09. Christmas On The Bayou - Lonnie Brooks
10. Santa Claus - Little Charlie & The Nightcats
11. The Little Drummer Boy - Elvin Bishop
12. One Parent Christmas - Safire
13. Christmas - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
14. Silent Night - Charlie Musselwhite




Pass: jazzcompilation



Alligator Records Genuine Houserockin' Collection

A Jazz Christmas

A Jazz Christmas
Sony · 1990 · 54 Mb

01. Jingle Bells · Duke Ellington
02. Sleigh Ride · Tex Beneke
03. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town · Dave Brubeck Quartet
04. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas · Dexter Gordon
05. Frosty the Snowman · Dukes Of Dixieland
06. Deck Us All With Boston Charlie · Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
07. Our Little Town · The Heath Brothers
08. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas · Tex Beneke
09. Winter Wonderland · Chico Hamilton
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas · McCoy Tyner




Pass: jazzcompilation

A Jazz & Blues Christmas

A Jazz & Blues Christmas
Putumayo · 2008 · 46 Mb

01. Christmas Celebration · B.B. King
02. Santa's Blues · Charles Brown
03. Wrap Yourself in a Christmas Package · R.Greer & I.Terraza
04. Santa Baby · Emilie Claire Barlow
05. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer · Ray Charles
06. Here Comes Santa Claus · The Ramsey Lewis Trio
07. Merry Christmas Baby · The Dukes of Dixieland
08. The Christmas Blues · Topsy Chapman & Lars Edegran
09. Xmas Baby · Riff Ruffin
10. All I Ask for Christmas · Mighty Blue Kings


Review
The Putumayo label reliably delivers incredibly cool music, usually with around-the-world flair, but sometimes the focus is home-grown excitement. In fact, just last season I reviewed Putumayo's excellent New Orleans Christmas on this site. A natural outgrowth of New Orleans Christmas, Putumayo's A Jazz & Blues Christmas serves up more sizzlin' seasonal standards.

Although the music ends far too quickly (after 33 minutes), it's top quality every bar of the trip. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this ride even more than last year's New Orleans Christmas adventure. The highlights here are just astoundingly high, and that makes this album mighty easy to embrace. B.B. King reigns over all he surveys with his raspy opener Christmas Celebration, and Ray Charles absolutely kills with his outstanding Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. These two tracks alone are easily worth the price of admission. Wow!

Fans of soulful blues and traditional jazz will applaud A Jazz & Blues Christmas; it's the genuine article. Next time, Putumayo, please extend the seasonal offerings for at least 10 minutes more!
Carol Swanson/www.christmasreviews.com


A Jazz & Blues Christmas
Putumayo Presents New Orleans Christmas
Putumayo Presents Christmas Around The World

Alligator Records Genuine Houserockin' Christmas

Alligator Records Genuine Houserockin' Christmas
Alligator · 2003 · 83,20 Mb

01. Have You Heard The News? · Koko Taylor · 4.44
02. Christmas Train · Carey Bell · 3.36
03. Christmas Snow · Michael Burks · 3.59
04. Christmas Time · Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials · 3.38
05. Stay A Little Longer, Santa · Shemekia Copeland · 4.23
06. Back Door Santa · The Holmes Brothers · 3.05
07. Christmas Party · W.C. Clark · 3.53
08. Zydeco Christmas · C.J. Chenier · 3.25
09. Christmas Day Blues · Cephas & Wiggins · 3.10
10. Christmas Fais Do Do · Marcia Ball · 3.15
11. Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues? · Roomful Of Blues · 3.23
12. Really Been Good This Year · Saffire · 3.28
13. All I Want For Christmas · Lonnie Brooks · 4.55
14. A Bluesman's Christmas · Coco Montoya · 4.28
15. It's Christmas Time Again · Little Charlie & The Nightcats · 3.13
16. Fattening Up The Turkey · Dave Hole · 3.42




Pass: jazzcompilation




Koko Taylor
Have You Heard The News?
Koko Taylor, Vocals
Criss Johnson, Guitars, Bass
Richard Gibbs Jr, Piano
Kriss T. Johnson Jr, Drums

Carey Bell
Christmas Train
Carey Bell, Harmonica, Vocals
Lonnie Brooks, Guitar
Ken Saydak, Piano
Johnny B. Gayden, Bass
Willie Hayes, Drums

Michael Burks
Christmas Snow
Michael Burks, Guitar, Vocals
Vasti Jackson, Rhythm Guitar
Ernest “Blues Bear” Williamson, Organ
David Smith, Bass
Steve Potts, Drums

Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials
Christmas Time
Lil’ Ed Williams, Guitar, Vocals
Mike Garrett, Rhythm Guitar
James “Pookie” Young, Bass
Kelly Littleton, Drums

Shemekia Copeland
Stay A Little Longer, Santa
Shemekia Copeland, Vocals
Arthur Neilson, Guitar
Jason Ladanye, Keyboards
Jason Langley, Bass
Barry Harrison, Drums
“Fingers” Hahn, Percussion

The Holmes Brothers
Back Door Santa
Wendell Holmes, Guitar, Hammond B-3 Organ, Lead Vocal
Sherman Holmes, Bass, Background Vocal
Popsy Dixon, Drums, Background Vocal
Catherine Russell, Tambourine, Background Vocal

W.C. Clark
Christmas Party
W.C. Clark, Guitar and Vocals
Derek O’Brien, Guitar
Riley Osborne, Keyboards
Larry Fulcher, Bass
Barry “Frosty” Smith, Drums
The Texas Horns:
Mark “Kaz” Kazanoff, Tenor Sax, Horn Arrangement
Gary Slechta, Trumpet
John Mills, Baritone Sax

C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band
Zydeco Christmas
C.J. Chenier, Accordion, Vocal, Percussion
Tim Betts, Guitar
Glenn Griffin, Bass
James Alfred, Rubboard, Percussion
Christopher “Katt” Lee, Drums, Percussion, Background Vocals
Gregory Jones, Percussion

Cephas & Wiggins
Christmas Day Blues
John Cephas, Guitar, Vocals
Phil Wiggins, Harmonica

Marcia Ball
Christmas Fais Do Do
Marcia Ball, Piano, Vocals
Danny Levin, Fiddle
Casper Rawls, Guitar
Bradley Williams, Accordion
Kevin Smith, Bass
Rob Hooper, Drums

Roomful Of Blues
Santa Claus, Do You Ever Get The Blues?
Mark Du Fresne, Vocals
Bob Enos, Trumpet
Mark Earley, Baritone Sax
Rich Lataille, Alto Sax
Mark Stevens, Keyboards
Chris Vachon, Guitar
Brad Hallen, Bass
Jason Corbiere, Drums

Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women
Really Been Good This Year
Ann Rabson, Piano, Vocals (second verse)
Gaye Adegbalola, Guitar, Vocals (third verse)
Andra Faye, Mandolin, Vocals (first verse)

Lonnie Brooks
All I Want For Christmas (Is To Be With You)
Lonnie Brooks, Lead Guitar, Vocals
Wayne Baker Brooks, Rhythm Guitar (right)
Ronnie Baker Brooks, Rhythm Guitar (left), Percussion
Daryl Coutts, Organ
David “Biscuit” Miller, Bass
Mike Rodbard, Drums

Coco Montoya
A Bluesman’s Christmas
Coco Montoya, Guitar, Vocals
Alan Mirikitani, Rhythm Guitar
Anthony Patler, Keyboards
Gerald Johnson, Bass
Lee Spath, Drums

Little Charlie & The Nightcats
Christmas Time Again (Spend, Spend, Spend)
Little Charlie Baty, Guitar
Rick Estrin, Harmonica, Vocals
Lorenzo Farrell, Bass
Jay Hansen, Drums

Dave Hole
Fattening Up The Turkey
Dave Hole, Guitar, Vocals
Bob Patient, Keyboards
Roy Daniel, Bass
Ric Eastman, Drums


Review
Alligator Records Genuine Houserockin' Christmas

A wonderful alternative to the same old Christmas classics

When you have had your fill of the local radio station fare, and when you grow tired of the Time Life classic collection, pull out the Genuine House-rockin' Christmas disc for an evening of blues-inspired holiday fun!

This is not the first collection you will want to pull out to get you in the Christmas mood as the jingle bells of tradition are replaced with the accordion and fiddle of a hopping Zydeco party, but it sure is a great change of pace during the holidays that gets better with repeated play.
While I still enjoy the classics that I grew up with (including Ray Conniff and Mitch Miller...), this is one of the discs I pull out when I want to take a break from the cocoa in front of the fire and want to put my dancing shoes on.

It is great for Christmas parties, and many friends have heard it and gone on to get it for themselves. So if you are wondering if it is your cup of tea, take a listen to the sample tracks here, and if you like what you hear don't hesitate to add it to your collection.
R. Knight/Amazon.com


The Alligator Records Christmas Collection