So, how do you get into the Christmas spirit in Los Angeles? You could do a lot worse than hearing Gordon Goodwin who Tuesday night started the season off by bringing his Big Phat Band to Catalina’s and taking songs that cover both…
Month: December 2013
Richie Kaye with Tony LaVorgna: A NYC Subway Christmas
Here’s a festive collection of Christmas songs that will REALLY make you feel like you’re caught up in the season, as guitarist/vocalist Richie Kaye and alto saxist Tony LaVorgna make you feel like you’re hustling through the metro or along…
CHRISTMAS MUSIC TIME!! Tchaikovsky/Ellington/Strayhorn: Nutcracker Suites
To get you into the Christmas mood, we’re dedicating this week to music that reflects the Christmas season. A bunch of new releases and old reissues have recently been released, and what follows is a summary of a bunch of…
FOR MY MONEY…John Fahey: Christmas Soli
Charlie Brown’s Christmas gets all the publicity. Well, it’s hard to compete with a soundtrack that you hear every year since TV shows were black and white. Still, next to Handel’s Messiah and Corelli’s Christmas Concert, Christmas Soli by guitarist…
WHO’S BETTER? Nnenna Freelon/John Brown Big Band: Christmas
Vocalist Nnenna Freelon can do no wrong in my book. On stage, her joy of heart exudes in every syllable that comes from her lips, while on record she keeps one foot in the tradition and one foot on intriguing…
Jonathan Butler: Merry Christmas to You
Smooth guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Butler roasts chestnuts by the open fire on this cozy and warm collection of Christmas standards. A lesser known tune, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” stands out from the standard fare of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and…
Lady Antebellum: Live-On This Winter’s Night
Originally released as a holiday album last year, On This Winter’s Night is the dvd presentation of the trios performance at the Nashville Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The 40 piece orchestra backs up the trio that actually creates a pretty cozy…
Ted Rosenthal Trio: Wonderland
Here’s a trio that takes its Christmas songs seriously. Ted Rosenthal/p, Noriko Ueda/b and Tim Horner/dr go through the Natal catalogue of standard fare, but with a lot of thought and preparation. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has a…
Jim Self/Hollywood Tuba 12: ‘Tis the Season Tuba Jolly!
Jim Self/Hollywood Tuba 12: ‘Tis the Season Tuba Jolly! Twelve part arrangements for the tuba?!? Gotta love the moxie of Jim Self, and he makes it work on this fun filled and quite varied collection of Christmas tunes. Take heart,…
****VOCAL RINGER OF THE YEAR?****Tierney Sutton: After Blue
I’ve looked at Joni from both sides now From pop and blues, and still somehow It’s Joni’s illusions I recall I really don’t know Joni…at all I grew up listening to Joni Mitchell, and what was most fascinating about…