1. Christmas Will Really Be Christmas 2. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 3. That's What I Want For Christmas 4. Winter Wonderland 5. Up On The Housetop - Here Comes Santa Claus 6. Santa Baby 7. Snowbound 8. Angels We Have Heard On High 9. Christmas Time Is Here 10. Christmas Is 11. Silent Night 12. We Three Kings 13. Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep |
Kristin's combo in the video is the same one you'll hear on the album...Mathias Heise on harmonica, Magnus Hjorth on piano, and Snorre Kirk on drums.
On "That Time of Year", Kristin presents a program of largely familiar holiday selections. That's really not an issue when you're as special an artist as Kristin Korb. Some of the arrangements will change things up for you. "Winter Wonderland", for example, is taken at a much slower pace than we're used to...practically transforming into a love song to winter. She does a little scat singing on "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" (which is mostly done in a spirited gallop) and we get what is essentially a Jazz duet on "Santa Baby"...a duet of Kristin and her bass (not to imply that everybody else sits out).
There are a few less familiar covers on "That Time of Year". I might count "That's What I Want For Christmas" (made famous by Nancy Wilson) and "Snowbound" on that end of things, though both of those do get covered from time to time. But there are two inspired choices. "Christmas Is..." is a song written by Percy Faith and almost so unforgettable in it's original form that few would, or do, dare tackle it at all, let alone in a different genre. "Stubby," you say, "Johnny Mathis covered it and, frankly, it would be tough to do a better cover of "Christmas Is..." than Holly Cole did." OK, you got me (honestly, if you remembered Holly Cole's version, you go to the head of the class; and, if you didn't, go get it). But what about "Christmas Will Really Be Christmas"? Huh? Huh?
"Christmas Will Really Be Christmas" was written by Dave Holland and the brilliant and underrated H.B. Barnum. Barnum is mostly known as an arranger, but he was also a helluva songwriter and singer ("It Hurts Too Much To Cry" is one of my favorite forgotten soul records). Barnum has penned a few Christmas songs, though I don't know that he's ever recorded any. But he worked a lot with Lou Rawls back in the day and Rawls first cut "Christmas Will Really Be Christmas" in 1967. And virtually no one has covered it since. In a way, it was a piece of its time...the turbulent sixties. And, to be honest, I'm not sure if its a good thing or bad that it doesn't sound the least bit dated or out of place in our present circumstances. But, for my money, it's the highlight of the album.
Kristin Korb's "That Time of Year" arrives this Friday, November 9. And, just like that, the Jazz portion of our musical Christmas tree is looking a little less bare.