Putumayo Presents: Jazz Christmas
Putumayo, 2021
8/10
Listen to Putumayo Presents: Jazz Christmas
A primarily instrumental listen of upbeat Christmas songs, Putumayo assembles a very diverse and enjoyable selection of artists who contribute songs most of us are familiar with, but will certainly enjoy hearing in these interpretations.
Tom Grant starts the listen with the warm piano, brushed drumming and timeless spirit of “Winter Wonderland”, and “The Christmas Song” follows with the Dixieland Ramblers emitting much beauty and grace amid the dancing keys and carefully plucked bass.
Oscar Peterson’s “Let It Snow” arrives in the middle and places strategic piano riffs into the classic, while Houston Person’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” gets a bit frisky with its lively bass, meticulous piano and agile drumming.
Close to the end, Papa Don Vappie’s New Orleans Jazz Band put a very soulful spin on “Silver Bells” with their banjo and brass interacting with much attention to detail in a rowdy sort of way, and Charles Brown’s “Bringing In A Brand New Year” exits the listen with a finger snapping, hand clapping good time that’s not short on melody, rhythm and grooves in its bluesy demeanor.
The excellent liner notes provide explanations and histories of each track, and as always with the Putumayo label, you get visually exciting artwork and a download code, too.
Travels well with: Putumayo World Café; Putumayo:New Orleans Mambo: Cuba To NOLA