Don't let the title fool you; this mix has nothing to do with the uber-schmaltzy hit that made moms and dads cry across the country during the latter half of the 1990s. I filled this mix with more of my favorite artists from A&M records and a hodgepodge of others that make me feel especially jazzy and snazzy in my patent leather heels. I was especially pleased to find some good gypsy-style guitar tracks that year, and perhaps my favorite track on this mix is the "Blue Christmas/Let it Snow" medley by The Gypsy Hombres (toward the end). Or maybe it's the Mills Brothers singing "You Don't Have to Be a Santa Claus."
This was also the first year I'd ever heard Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite in its entirety. Those must have been some saucy sugarplum fairies. The "Overture" is included on this, and if you like it, you've gotta check out the whole album. It's so fun.
Joel introduced me to Trombone Shorty's version of "O Holy Night." This is normally one of my least favorite carols due to the way it's become something of a piece de resistance for vocalists to make incredibly unholy and rather self-worshiping. Strangely enough, he heard this version on the TV show "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" during its Christmas show in the year of Hurricane Katrina, in which Trombone Shorty lead a group of displaced musicians from New Orleans in performing this gorgeous rendition. It gives me a lump in my throat each time I hear it.
Hope you find a few you enjoy.
I just heard Trombone Shorty for the first time when they opened at a concert a few weeks ago, and while I enjoyed the main act, I think Trombone Shorty was my favorite part. :) And I love the Duke Ellington suite. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's great you got to see him! I think he just came out with a new album. Either way, he was off my radar for far too long.
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