{"id":8063,"date":"2016-12-23T19:57:01","date_gmt":"2016-12-24T03:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/rifftides\/?p=8063"},"modified":"2016-12-23T19:57:01","modified_gmt":"2016-12-24T03:57:01","slug":"holiday-listening-in-brief-two-new-cds-and-a-modern-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/rifftides\/2016\/12\/holiday-listening-in-brief-two-new-cds-and-a-modern-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Holiday Listening In Brief: Two New CDs And A Modern Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NOLA Players<\/strong>, Christmastime in New Orleans<\/em><\/a> (Verve\/Aim Higher)<\/p>\n

\"\"A cross-generational and cross-racial gathering of Crescent City jazz veterans generates spirited versions of traditional Christmas music. Some of the players are well known outside of New Orleans; bassist Roland Guerin, percussionist Jason Marsalis, saxophonist Tony DaGradi and trumpeter Bobby Campo among them. All eighteen musicians have the celebrated N\u00e2\u20ac\u2122Yawlins feeling for rhythm and good times. Campo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s first notes of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Jingle Bells\u00e2\u20ac\u009d over a modified parade beat morph into a series of solos featuring him, Dagradi and drummer Geoff Clapp, followed by a stretch of group improvisation by all the horns and the rhythm section. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Away In A Manger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is funky, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Silent Night\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a peaceful oasis, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Go Tell It On The Mountain\u00e2\u20ac\u009d a series of gospel declarations. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a joyous collection.<\/p>\n

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The Beautiful Day<\/em><\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u201dKurt Elling<\/strong> Sings Christmas<\/p>\n

Elling\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s singing has acquired new depth and maturity that may have begun two or three years\"\" ago when he concentrated for a time on interpreting Frank Sinatra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s legacy. Here, he indeed sings Christmas, but includes just four traditional melodies and a double handful of less familiar pieces that includes three stimulating impressions inspired by the classic \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Good King Wenceslaus.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He bases his own new composition, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Michigan Farm,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d on a melody by Norwegian classical composer Edward Grieg and adapts songs from Leslie Bricusse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s score for the 1970 motion picture musical Scrooge<\/em>. Elling brings to this album what I have often found missing from his singing\u00e2\u20ac\u201ddeep feeling\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a pleasure to experience it. The duet with his daughter Luiza on Bricusse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s title song brings the collection to a charming close.<\/p>\n

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Hans Teuber, et al<\/strong>, Winter: An Origin Records holiday collection<\/em><\/a> (Origin)<\/p>\n

\"\"This 2002 collection is a perennial holiday favorite. Alto and tenor saxophonist Teuber, guitarist Dave Peterson, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop interpret ten standard and traditional winter songs. Horace Silver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Peace\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and Peterson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153December\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Winter Waltz,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d meld beautifully with\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Greensleeves,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Silver Bells,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Coventry Carol\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and the others. The interpretations are relaxed and reflective. Teuber\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s tenor sax solo in \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What Are You Doing New Years Eve?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is notable for the inventiveness of his harmonic turns. On alto in this sample track, he waltzes through \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Greensleeves,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and Johnson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bass solo flows with vigor.<\/p>\n

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