🎷 AotW: Jazz Various Artists - GOD REST YE MERRY JAZZMEN

[Captain Bacardi]

Various Artists
GOD REST YE MERRY JAZZMEN
Columbia Records PC 37551

Released 1981

Compilation Produced by Jim Fishel

Songs & Artists:

1. The Dexter Gordon Quartet - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (H. Martin/R. Blane) - 9:37​

Produced by Dexter Gordon & Michael Cuscuna​

Dexter Gordon - Tenor Saxophone​

Kirk Lightsey - Acoustic Piano​

David Eubanks - Acoustic Bass​

Eddie Gladden - Drums​

​

2. MyCoy Tyner - I'll Be Home For Christmas (K. Gannon/W. Kent/B. Ram) - 5:50​

Produced by McCoy Tyner​

McCoy Tyner - Steinway Concert Grand Piano​

​

3. The Arthur Blythe Quartet - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (M. Torme/R. Wells) - 6:01​

Produced by Arthur Blythe​

Arthur Blythe - Alto Saxophone​

John Hicks - Acoustic Piano​

Fred Hopkins - Acoustic Bass​

Steve McCall - Drums​

​

4. The Heath Brothers - Our Little Town (Based on "Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem"/Traditional) (J. Heath/P. Heath) - 7:06​

Produced by Jimmy and Percy Heath​

Jimmy Heath - Tenor Saxophone​

Percy Heath - Acoustic Bass​

Stanley Cowell - Acoustic Piano, Kalimba​

Tony Purrone - Electric Guitar​

Akira Tana - Drums​

​

5. Paquito D'Rivera - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Traditional/arranged by P. D'Rivera) - 4:14​

Produced by Paquito D'Rivera​

Paquito D'Rivera - Alto saxophone​

John Miller - Acoustic Bass​

​

6. The Wynton Marsalis Quintet - We Three Kings Of Orient Are (Traditional/arranged by Wynton Marsalis) - 9:04​

Produced by Wynton Marsalis​

Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet​

Branford Marsalis - Tenor Saxophone​

Kenny Kirkland - Acoustic Piano​

Clarence Seay - Acoustic Bass​

Jeff Watts - Drums​

​

Engineered by Don Puluse with assistance from Ken Robertson
Recorded digitally on the Sony PCM System
Mastered at CBS Studios, New York by Ken Robertson
Design: Carin Goldberg
Illustration: Robert Weaver
Liner notes by Barbara Lynn Micale



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Rudy]

Wasn't this released later with extra tracks on CD? I have this somewhere, buried (and that should be a clue as to how much I liked it ). McCoy Tyner's track is a nice rendition--really enjoyed it. Marsalis? I avoid him just on principle.

 

[junglero]

This CD was re-released in its entirety on the combined CD issue of "Jingle Bell Jazz" leading to the removing of several tunes from the original "Jingle Bell Jazz" album line-up. Since this was already out on CD, if Columbia wanted to add tracks to the original JBJ, I'm sure they could have found others to add or just released JBJ as per te original with Herbie Hancock's track added on.

 

[alpertfan]

Too bad there are no music stores in this area, or I'd try to track down a copy of this. I'm a jazz fan, and these are some of my favorite Christmas ditties. It would interesting to hear the arrangements. I've never heard nor heard of this disc.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Here's a couple of YouTube clips of both Arthur Blythe and Dexter Gordon's tracks, which make it worthy in getting this album:






Capt. Bacardi

 

[alpertfan]

Wow. Impressive.