🎷 AotW: Jazz Various Artists - JINGLE BELL JAZZ

[Captain Bacardi]

Various Artists
JINGLE BELL JAZZ
Columbia Records

Released 1973

Songs & Artists:
1. Duke Ellington - Jingle Bells (M. Ellington) - 3:00

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, June 21, 1962​

Billy Strayhorn - Piano​

Aaron Bell - Bass​

Sam Woodyard - Drums​

Roy Burrows, Ray Nance, Cat Anderson, Bill Berry - Trumpets​

Johnny Hodges, Russell Procope, Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney - Reeds​

Lawrence Brown, Chuck Connors, Britt Woodman - Trombones​

​

2. Lionel Hampton - White Christmas (Irving Berlin) - 2:31

Produced and Arranged by Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, January 11, 1962​

Lionel Hampton - Vibes​

Tommy Flanagan - Piano​

Bill Mackel - Guitar​

George Duvivier - Bass​

Osie Johnson - Drums​

Richard Hixson, Edward Bert, Robert McGarity and Robert Byrne - Trombones​

​

3. Chico Hamilton - Winter Wonderland (D. Smith/F. Bernard) - 5:23

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, May 26, 1961​

Chico Hamilton - Drums​

Charles Lloyd - Saxophone​

Nat Gersham - Cello​

Harry Polk - Guitar​

Buddy Catlett - Bass​

​

4. Carmen McRae - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) (M. Torme/R. Wells) - 3:54

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, June 29, 1961​

Carmen McRae - Vocals​

Norman Simmons - Celesta​

Bob Cranshaw - Bass​

​

5. Pony Poindexter - Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (J. Marks) - 2:31

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, May 10, 1962​

Pony Poindexter - Alto and Soprano Sax​

Dexter Gordon, Billy Mitchell - Tenor Sax​

Phil Woods, Gene Quill - Alto Sax​

Pepper Adams - Baritone Sax​

Charlie Persip - Drums​

Bill Yancey - Bass​

Gildo Mahones - Piano​

​

6. Paul Horn - We Three Kings Of Orient Are (J. Hopkins) - 3:50

Producer: Irving Townsend​

Recorded in Hollywood, CA, August 15, 1962​

Paul Horn - Flute​

Vic Gaskin - Bass​

Emil Richards - Vibraharp​

Paul Moer - Piano​

Milt Turner - Drums​

​

7. Dave Brubeck Quartet - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (H. Gillespie/J.F. Coots) - 3:40

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, June 2, 1961​

Dave Brubeck - Piano​

Gene Wright - Bass​

Joe Morello - Drums​

Paul Desmond - Alto Sax​

​

8. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Deck Us All With Boston Charlie (W. Kelly/N. Monath) - 3:12

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, May 4, 1961​

Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks & Annie Ross - Vocals​

Ike Isaacs - Bass​

Gildo Mahones - Piano​

Jimmy Wormworth - Drums​

​

9. Herbie Hancock - Deck The Halls (P.D. arranged by Jay Cee) - 4:59

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, January 14, 1969​

Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea - Pianos​

Woody Shaw - Trumpet​

Franks Wess - Saxophone​

Jimmy Cleveland - Trombone​

Dave Carey - Vibes​

Al Caiola - Guitar​

George Duvivier - Bass​

Ed Shaughnessy - Drums​

​

10. The Manhattan Jazz All Stars - If I Were A Bell (Frank Loesser) - 2:54

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, October 19, 1959​

Teddy Charles - Vibes​

Nick Travis, Addison Farmer - Trumpets​

Dave McKenna - Piano​

Ed Shaughnessy - Drums​

Jimmy Raney - Guitar​

Teo Macero - Saxophone​

​

11. Marlowe Morris - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (J. Marks) - 2:25

Produced by Frank Driggs for Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, August 16, 1962​

Marlowe Morris - Organ​

Jo Jones - Drums​

Ray Barretto - Drums​

​

12. Miles Davis - Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern) (M. Davis/B. Dorough) - 2:40

Producer: Teo Macero​

Recorded in New York City, August 21, 1962​

Miles Davis - Trumpet​

Paul Chambers - Bass​

Jimmy Cobb - Drums​

Frank Rehak - Trombone​

Wayne Shorter - Saxophone​

Bob Dorough - Vocal​

William Correa - Percussion​

​

Engineers: Frank Laico, Murray Zimney, Harold Chapman
producer, Jazz Odyssey Series: Mort Goode
Re-Engineered by Arthur Kennedy
Re-Mastered at CBS Recording Studios

NOTE: "Deck The Halls" with Herbie Hancock, which appeared in the re-release of Jingle Bell Jazz (Improvisations Of Christmas Favorites), Harmony KH-32529, issued September 28, 1973 is included here instead of The Dukes Of Dixieland's "Frosty The Snowman", which was part of the original album Jingle Bell Jazz, CS 8693, issued October 17, 1962.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is the original cover art for Jingle Bell Jazz issued in 1962:

There is another newer version of this album with a few different tracks that was released in 1990:





Capt. Bacardi

 

[Rudy]

Miles hated that "Blue Xmas" recording.

Can't say this ever warmed on me--aside from the Miles and Brubeck tracks and a couple of others, it doesn't work as holiday music for me. Too tedious IMHO. I have that last version from 1990 on CD.

 

[A&Mguyfromwayback]

I agree, Rudy. It's an oddly cold and distant compilation. And I love Christmas music......

 

[Rudy]

I agree, Rudy. It's an oddly cold and distant compilation. And I love Christmas music......

Thanks--those are words I couldn't come up with to describe it. I had always wished for a Brubeck Quartet Christmas album done by the original quartet, so I'm grateful they recorded at least one song. That Miles Davis track, annoying as it was to Miles, is an amusing sidebar to the album (plus, it also marked the first time Miles worked with Wayne Shorter).

This seems more like an A&R project: scrape up any jazz Christmas song in the vaults you can find, or coerce a few artists to record a holiday song, and put it on a compilation album.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of all Christmas music, but the core collection of albums and individual songs I like are truly indispensable. Even as dark as a mood can get, throwing on something like the TJB's album, or Charlie Brown Christmas, always lightens the spirit. And seeing Brian Setzer's big band before the holidays is always a treat!

 

[junglero]

The Manhattan All Stars track on this album is the only one originally released on another album: Swinging "Guys and Dolls". I think all the other tracks were first released on this album. Some of the deleted tracks on the CD version can be found scattered on other Columbia Jazz Christmas compilations.

 

[Rudy]

I actually would not mind finding this in its original "360 Sound" LP version as shown above, as I like original pressings on vinyl no matter what the music. Finding one that isn't trashed, however, is going to be difficult.

 

[A&Mguyfromwayback]

So if "If I Were A Bell" is a Christmas song, is "One Less Bell To Answer"? Anita Ward singing "Ring My Bell"?

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This album is a hit and miss compilation. I love tracks 1, 2, 5, 7, 9 & 11. The Brubeck track is the best. Gotta love how Brubeck played the "Gloria" from "Angels We Have Heard On High" while Desmond plays the melody of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". It works so well.

Miles hated that "Blue Xmas" recording.

Yeah, I'm wondering if this is when Miles first tried heroin after recording this song.



Capt. Bacardi