The Line-Up for 12-24-2010

For some reason, I had a shortage of ideas for jazz Christmas music. Also, KRTU has played quite a bit of it today anyway. I figure half a show of Christmas music will suffice for this Christmas Eve episode.

Marco Benevento - Atari
The October concert at Montreal's Le Divan Orange is full of gems like this.
Sound Directions - Dice Game/Wanda Vidal
Seriously try to avoid whistling "Wanda Vidal" after this. I dare you.
Cari Stevens - Dienda
It's a computer selection, what can I say?
Chaka Khan & Freddie Hubbard - I Love You, Porgy
This coming Wednesday will mark the second anniversary of the passing of Freddie Hubbard. I wanted to make sure I acknowledge this fact.
Joe Sample - Clifton's Gold
For those of you who may not know this about me, I absolutely love Joe Sample. I go crazy about the man's work. With that little bit of a nip in the air, it only means we're not too far off from February 1, Sample's birthday. Get ready.
Bill Frisell - It's Nobody's Fault But Mine
I don't quite know what compelled me to put this song here. I just sort of did.
Mayer Hawthorne & Vince Guaraldi - Christmas Time Is Here
This song has been floating around the internet for about a week now, but chances are you may not have heard it yet. It's the song you've known forever with a damn soulful singer not ruining the tune. It is worthy of your ears and your praise.
Anita Baker - My Favorite Things
I realized something today and I'm about to make a bold statement: Anita Baker's Christmas Fantasy is better than her comeback album, My Everything. It's like she was just warming up to this superior album. Though it's hard to lose when you have Joe Sample backing you on every track (I reiterate, get ready).
Grover Washington, Jr. - Jesu (Joy of Man's Desiring)
Usually, it's not exactly the best thing possible for your career when one of your last albums recorded before your death is a Christmas album. Still, Washington provides a certain depth all throughout
Breath of Heaven that such an album doesn't mar his legacy. This really is a great album and this song is a shining point of it.
Josh Moshier & Mike Lebrun - Sister Winter
This has been one of the most welcome additions to my inbox ever. I can only hope that Sufjan Stevens' Christmas songs grow steadily in our thoughts of holiday fare. Moshier and Lebrun kill it and that's just a taste of other great music they're making.

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