Since Christmas is the celebration of the world’s most famous Jew, I always love when someone from The Tribe releases an album with songs about the holiday. Pianist George Kahn brings in the rich voices of Courtney Lemmon, Gina Saputo and Crystal Starr over the backing team of Grant Geissman/g, Lyman Medeiros/b, MB Gordy/dr, Robert Kyle/wwinds, Kris Bergh/tp and Jim Cox/org for a collection of standards and not so standard Natal pieces. There’s mistletoe madness on songs like “Boogie Woogie Christmas Party” and a hoot of Tom Lehrer’s ‘Chanukah In Santa Monica”. A bluesy read of Charles Brown’s “Merry Christmas Baby” stuffs the stocking, while Gina Saputo glows over a Coltranesque “My Favorite Things”. Starr shines on “O Holy Night” and everyone is cozy on “White Christmas” (written by another relative of Jesus Christ, Irving Berlin). Who’s bringing the Chinese take out?
He’s playing around LA this week at The Grape and Vibratto Grill. Don’t miss out on the celebration and swing