13 Days of Xmas 2009, Day 8: What Jazz Is This?

If there’s any musical genre that can take tired Xmas music and make it listenable again, it’s jazz. So as we plunge closer and closer to the holiday’s event horizon, it’s time to draw upon the strength of jazz musicians to help us make it through. (Bear in mind, there’s not much to see on these YouTube embeds, but it’s worth it for the music. So feel free to go, you know, work in another window while you listen.)

First off, let’s start with some excellent Dave Brubeck, solo on the piano for “O Tannenbaum.”
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Direct link for the feedreaders. It’s available on the album A Dave Brubeck Christmas.

Now it’s over to John Coltrane and a live rendition of “Greensleeves.”

Direct link for the feedreaders. There’s plenty of versions of “Greensleeves” on Ballads: John Coltrane.

Even that tired old “Jingle Bells” can get a solid ass-kicking from somebody like inhuman guitar playing monster Tuck Andress. His Hymns, Carols and Songs About Snow is amazing across the board. Any of his stuff is highly recommended.

Direct link for the feedreaders.

And this version of “Sleigh Ride” from the Ramsey Lewis Trio is just fantastic.

Direct link for the feedreaders. This track is available on The Sound of Christmas.

Last year, we were enjoying the holiday musical stylings of Geraldine McQueen. The year before that, ScottC took us on a tour of various versions of the slinky “Santa Baby.”