If you’re not yet into Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks, you’re missing the freshest singer around. Not only does he have a hip delivery that the likes of Jamie Cullum and Michal Buble’ would die for, but he writes his own material that is a clever mixture of Mose Allison, Tom Waits and a husky Mel Torme. He’s released three snappy albums so far, but this time around he takes on the Christmas season, once again composing his own material with celestial seasons with Jacob Gorzhaltsan/ts-cl, Julian Anderson Bowes/b, and Norbert Botos/dr while Bird his the piano and B3.
And, this is a performing unit, as all of the songs have a “live” feel to them. Bid and company swing easy on “The Forecast For Today” while getting a bit Klezmerish with Gorzhaltsan’s licorice stick on the hoot of “Ho Ho Hold Me Close”. He’s relaxed by the fire on the roasted chestnut of “Every Time This Year”, as reflective as a Natal candle for “Christmas Eve” and coming across like a nighthawk at the diner for “Yule Train”. “A Cup of Tea and You” is a cozy piece of mistletoe with the band sounding as wondrous as a night in Bethlehem during “Another Christmas Day”.
Whether Christmas is a time of Christ or Santa, this album is a stocking stuffer. Swing the jingle bells.