Jingle Bell Jazz

Jingle Bell Jazz
Compilation album by Various artists
Released October 17, 1962
Recorded 1959–1962
Genre Jazz
Label Columbia Records CS-8693

Jingle Bell Jazz is a collection of jazz versions of Christmas songs recorded between 1959 and 1962 by some of the most popular artists on the Columbia label. It was first issued October 17, 1962.

Tracks

Side One

  1. "Jingle Bells" - Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
  2. "White Christmas" - Lionel Hampton
  3. "Winter Wonderland" - Chico Hamilton
  4. "The Christmas Song" - Carmen McRae
  5. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" - Pony Poindexter
  6. "We Three Kings of Orient Are" - Paul Horn

Side Two

  1. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" - Dave Brubeck
  2. "Deck Us All with Boston Charlie" - Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
  3. "Frosty the Snowman" - Dukes of Dixieland
  4. "If I Were a Bell" - Manhattan Jazz All-Stars
  5. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - Marlowe Morris
  6. "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)" - Miles Davis (Bob Dorough, vocal)

The 1973 (Harmony KH-32529) and 1980 (Columbia 36803) reissues replace side 2, track 3 with "Deck the Halls" by Herbie Hancock, recorded in 1969.

Reviews and Opinions

At the time of its release, Jingle Bell Jazz was reviewed in Billboard: "Unfortunately, this album is reaching the market too late to really be a factor this year, but it contains such a swinging, bright collection of jazz names, it certainly bears comment."[1]

Despite his unenthusiastic assessment of his contribution to Jingle Bell Jazz, Miles Davis recalls the recording session as the beginning of a fruitful collaboration with saxophonist Wayne Shorter:[2] "...Columbia got the bright idea of making an album for Christmas, and they thought it would be hip if I had this silly singer named Bob Dorough on the album, with Gil (Fuller) arranging. We got Wayne Shorter on tenor, Frank Rehak on trombone, and Willie Bobo on bongos, and in August we did this album. The less said about it the better, but it did let me play with Wayne Shorter for the first time, and I really liked what he was into."[3][4]

Jingle Bell Jazz reached No. 28 on the Billboard Christmas Albums Chart on December 10, 1988.

Reissues

The album was reissued twice on LP, in 1973 and 1980, with a track alteration and different cover art. Columbia has issued a CD called Jingle Bell Jazz with several tracks from the original LP and several newer tracks, with different cover art from both LP versions.[5]

While Jingle Bell Jazz has not been reissued in its entirety on compact disc, many of the tracks are available on other anthologies. "Deck Us All With Boston Charlie" and "Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)" are available on Hipsters' Holiday (Rhino). "Jingle Bells" is available on Jingle Bell Jam (Rhino). "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", "Frosty The Snowman", and "Winter Wonderland" are available on A Jazz Christmas (Sony Music Special Products). "If I Were a Bell" is available on Something New, Something Blue + Swinging 'Guys and Dolls' (Fresh Sound).

A remastered digital version of the full original 1962 album was released by the Trunk Records label in the UK in December 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "Jingle Bell Jazz". Billboard. December 22, 1962. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  2. ↑ Mercer, Michelle (2004). Footprints: The Life and Work of Wayne Shorter. New York: Tarcher. p. 94. ISBN 1-58542-353-X.
  3. ↑ Davis, Miles; Troupe, Quincy (1989). Miles: The Autobiography. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 259. ISBN 0-671-63504-2.
  4. ↑ Szwed, John (2002). So What: The Life of Miles Davis. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 234. ISBN 0-684-85982-3.
  5. ↑ Cadence. 7. 1981. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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