Swinging Celestial seasons are provided by the JALC with Wynton Marsalis and a stocking stuffer of guest vocalists. Marsalis himself gives a swaggering Crescent City jab on “Snowfall” and a dramatic “Rise Up Shepherd, and Follow” features trumpeter Marcus Printup” with Ellingtonian tones for “The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year”. The vocals are the real winners here, with Aretha Franklin, in one of her last recordings, sings in German for an intimate gospel rendition of “O Tanenbaum.” Denzal Sinclaire gives a modal read of the driving “We Three Kings” and a bluesy “Silent Night” with guitarist James Chirillo. Veronica Swift is fun on “(Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man with the Bag” and Catherine Russell plunges with the trombones on a swinging “What Will Santa Claus Say?” and the toe taping “Cool Yule.” This album emphasizes the Santa side of Christmas, so put out your mistletoe instead of Nativity Scene for this one.