A warning, up top. I'm a bit grouchy (or Grinchy) this evening. I've been dealing with an extremely painful and debilitating bout of arthritis, lately (kids, lesson one: old age SUCKS!). So one thing you try to do is make dietary changes. Specifically, it's advised that you avoid sugar, starches, and processed food. Of course, EVERYTHING is processed. I've been mostly eating assorted fruits and vegetables and that really isn't doing it for me. I'd feel better about it if it seemed to be helping at all. Now I'm in pain AND hungry. There's a bag of Doritos in the cupboard that's been mocking me for days and its really starting to tick me off. So, yeah, I'm a bit grumpy (which is not groovy...too bad it isn't gravy), and the artists below may not be getting my fairest shake. Take that into account.
Green Hill Music have been providing recordings that fall within the walls of New Age and Smooth Jazz for quite some time and their holiday output has been particularly impressive, in both volume and variety. The musicianship is always superb and the quality is consistently excellent. That said...I'm not a huge fan of Green Hill. It's all so very....smooooooth. Green Hill will rarely surprise you. And I like surprises. Especially at Christmas. So take my words with at least a grain of salt and sample for yourself and make up your own mind.
Leading off another season of Green Hill holiday releases is "Christmas Jazz 2", a follow up to "Christmas Jazz". That 2011 set was credited to "Beegie Adair & Friends" while "Christmas Jazz 2" is credited to "Jack Jezzro & Friends", but both are really showcases for much of the label's roster. Near as I can tell, these are new recordings (not recycled from earlier holiday sets from the artists and label) but, admittedly, I didn't drill down too hard.
For my money, Green Hill succeeds best when the emphasis is less on "Smooth" and more on "Jazz". So my favorite tracks on "Christmas Jazz 2" are "Sleigh Ride" by the Mason Embry Trio and "A Christmas Love Song" by Lori Mechem. Mind you, those two are plenty smooth.
Like all of the releases in this post, "Christmas Jazz 2" arrives on CD on October 20, but this one is already available in digital form, if you want to give it a spin.
For my money, Green Hill succeeds best when the emphasis is less on "Smooth" and more on "Jazz". So my favorite tracks on "Christmas Jazz 2" are "Sleigh Ride" by the Mason Embry Trio and "A Christmas Love Song" by Lori Mechem. Mind you, those two are plenty smooth.
Like all of the releases in this post, "Christmas Jazz 2" arrives on CD on October 20, but this one is already available in digital form, if you want to give it a spin.
| Frosty the Snowman (Denis Solee with The Beegie Adair Trio) Blue Christmas (Jack Jezzro) Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Beegie Adair) Christmas Time Is Here (Leif Shires) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Sam Levine) Christmas Waltz (Jack Jezzro) A Christmas Love Song (Lori Mechem) I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Denis Solee with The Beegie Adair Trio) I Wonder As I Wander (Leif Shires) Here Comes Santa Claus (Beegie Adair) Toyland (Lori Mechem) Jolly Old St. Nicolas (Jack Jezzro) Sleigh Ride (Mason Embry Trio) We Three Kings (Denis Solee) I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Beegie Adair) |  |
When I saw Charlie McCoy on the holiday release schedule, I had to check to see if this was a re-issue of his 1974 album or a collection of more recent Christmas recordings he's had floating out there. It isn't.
Charlie McCoy is a Country artist of long standing, a Grammy winner, and an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also the Music Director for TV's "Hee Haw" for 19 years. While the public is probably most familiar with his proficiency on the harmonica, Charlie's a wizard with almost any instrument and Nashville artists know this well. Charlie has been a fine singer, as well, but you mostly hear him in instrumental settings or backing other vocalists, for whatever reason. And, for that reason, Green Hill actually suits his sound very well.
Frankly, I wasn't much of a fan of Charlie's 1974 album and, while some Country fans might not find "Classic Country Christmas" to be rustic enough, I thought it was the better of the two discs, all things considered. Charlie gives the tunes a gentle Country boot, but the album works well within the Green Hill sound. The biggest dose of Country comes via "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain", but I'm partial to "Christmas Time Is Here" which has a bit of the mournful quality of the "Theme from Midnight Cowboy". And, just so you know, Charlie plays the harmonica on the album, sure. But he also plays fiddle, dobro, guitar, mandolin, piano, and accordion, here.
Charlie McCoy is a Country artist of long standing, a Grammy winner, and an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also the Music Director for TV's "Hee Haw" for 19 years. While the public is probably most familiar with his proficiency on the harmonica, Charlie's a wizard with almost any instrument and Nashville artists know this well. Charlie has been a fine singer, as well, but you mostly hear him in instrumental settings or backing other vocalists, for whatever reason. And, for that reason, Green Hill actually suits his sound very well.
Frankly, I wasn't much of a fan of Charlie's 1974 album and, while some Country fans might not find "Classic Country Christmas" to be rustic enough, I thought it was the better of the two discs, all things considered. Charlie gives the tunes a gentle Country boot, but the album works well within the Green Hill sound. The biggest dose of Country comes via "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain", but I'm partial to "Christmas Time Is Here" which has a bit of the mournful quality of the "Theme from Midnight Cowboy". And, just so you know, Charlie plays the harmonica on the album, sure. But he also plays fiddle, dobro, guitar, mandolin, piano, and accordion, here.
 | The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Silver Bells Winter Wonderland I'll Be Home For Christmas Tender Tennessee Christmas Christmas Time Is Here Feliz Navidad Christmas In Killarney Mary, Did You Know? O Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem Ave Maria Go Tell It On The Mountain/Silent Night O Holy Night |
When I went through my New Age phase, one of the artists I immediately loved was David Arkenstone. Oh, there were easily a dozen or so, but David was in the mix. David has mastered more instruments than I could even name and has been prolific, creating music in many diverse sounds. And being both prolific and adventurous, David has gifted us with many many Christmas albums over the years. His latest is "Native Christmas" and, as the title suggests, this is David's exploration of Native American sounds applied to Christmas music. He's done a number of Native American albums in the past and, much as I love David, I've yet to listen to any of those.
And that's the thing. See, I'm a big fan of Native American music. And there are lots of Native American artists out there making Native American music...including Christmas music. R. Carlos Nakai, John Two-Hawks, Jana Mashonee, Douglas Blue Feather, etc. Been there, done that. So, to me, listening to David tackle this form sounds a bit like Pat Boone singing "Tutti Frutti". If you've never delved into Native American Christmas music before, "Native Christmas" may offer you a suitable gateway and that isn't a bad thing. FWIW, my favorite tracks were "Snow On The Mesa" and "Spirit of the Season", both of which I adored. But opening with "Little Drummer Boy" was a mood killer from the git-go. And it's hard for me to recover from that. Just sayin'.
And that's the thing. See, I'm a big fan of Native American music. And there are lots of Native American artists out there making Native American music...including Christmas music. R. Carlos Nakai, John Two-Hawks, Jana Mashonee, Douglas Blue Feather, etc. Been there, done that. So, to me, listening to David tackle this form sounds a bit like Pat Boone singing "Tutti Frutti". If you've never delved into Native American Christmas music before, "Native Christmas" may offer you a suitable gateway and that isn't a bad thing. FWIW, my favorite tracks were "Snow On The Mesa" and "Spirit of the Season", both of which I adored. But opening with "Little Drummer Boy" was a mood killer from the git-go. And it's hard for me to recover from that. Just sayin'.
| The Little Drummer Boy We Three Kings Angels We Have Heard On High Away In A Manger I Saw Three Ships Snow On The Mesa What Child Is This God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen O Holy Night O Christmas Tree Spirit Of The Season Silent Night PURCHASE FROM AMAZON |  |
One non-Green Hills album to mention, before we go. Info on new holiday releases is still a mere dribble as we close in on September. But we have learned that the Country Rock group Herrick is just wrapping the recording of their first full-length Christmas album. Herrick describes their own sound as being what Led Zeppelin might sound like had they "been Country and fronted by 'a chick'." So that could be awesome. Keep tabs on the release by following Herrick on Facebook. I believe you can get a free download if you join the mailing list.
It's worth mentioning the Herrick Christmas album, even without any details, because Herrick made an appearance in the inaugural season at Stubby's. Yes, back in 2010, Herrick released a Christmas single--a sweet Country ballad--"One Little Boy". And, me, I was absolutely in love with the cover art. The group re-released "One Little Boy" with different cover art a few years back. But I'm bringing back the original. So check out "One Little Boy" and shut the door on your way out and I'll spend some quality time with this here cover art. Maybe it'll take my mind off those Doritos in the cupboard.
It's worth mentioning the Herrick Christmas album, even without any details, because Herrick made an appearance in the inaugural season at Stubby's. Yes, back in 2010, Herrick released a Christmas single--a sweet Country ballad--"One Little Boy". And, me, I was absolutely in love with the cover art. The group re-released "One Little Boy" with different cover art a few years back. But I'm bringing back the original. So check out "One Little Boy" and shut the door on your way out and I'll spend some quality time with this here cover art. Maybe it'll take my mind off those Doritos in the cupboard.
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