jazz2love

Christmas is a holiday that is oftentimes geared for kids.  Designed to encourage children to create a list of gifts they would like Santa Claus to give them on Christmas day.  It is a special time of the year that inspires hope and good cheer towards one another.  Stoking the belief in the legendary tales of the patron saint of children St. Nicholas and the birth of the baby Jesus Christ.   American vocalist Jonathan Karrant, however, illustrates Christmas as a time of year for grown ups, choosing songs for his album Christmas Wish that appeal to a sophisticated palate.  Portraying the holiday as a period of maturity that enables adults to look in retrospect at what transpired in the past year, and finding hope in the year to come.   It is no wonder that David Foster's 1989 tune "Grown Up Christmas List" is the first song Karrant had in mind for the setlist on his Christmas album.  He recalls, "I've wanted to make a holiday album for years...

  Christmas Wish from Jonathan Karrant Label:  Virtuoso  Music Release Date:  November 11, 2022 Website:  https://www.jonathankarrant.com Sung with a traditional swinging vibe, vocalist Jonathan Karrant's holiday album Christmas Wish   reacquaints audiences to the blissful atmosphere of classic jazz embers.  His adaptations are smooth and upbeat, eliciting a spiritual revival through "Silent Night O Holy Night" recalling of Elvis Presley's caressing vocals, and turning to a classic smooth jazz climate along "Last Christmas," a fan favorite by George Michael of Wham!   Karrant's duet with vocalist Diane Schuur on "Grown Up Christmas List" is a soothing balm for the ears, as the pair emote a warm affection towards humanity, switching to a slow funky groove along "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," a 1947 hit for Frank Loesser.  Karrant performs a mash up of "I Wander As I Wander/We Three Kings" with the first being a Chri...

Artist: Carolyn Lee Jones CD Title: Christmas Time Is Here Label: Catn’round Sound Website: www.carolynleejones.com Merging swing, bossa nova, blues, and smooth jazz, vocalist Carolyn Lee Jones adds these rich flavors into a selection of Christmas tunes on her latest release Christmas Time Is Here from her label Catn’round Sound.  Ringing in the Yuletide, her performance shows reverence for the traditional singalongs while infusing her trademark sensitivity and tender vocal strokes. Shelley Carrol dabbles "I'd Like You for Christmas" with winsome saxophone trembles, jumping into the melodic progressions during Jones's vocal breaks, making for impromptu pivots along the track.  The bopping grooves lining "Merry Christmas Baby" are laden in good cheer as Mario Cruz's saxophone solo flashes a bright and bouncy blare while Jones lures listeners into the festive mood.   The sleek swagger of her vocal stride enshrouds "Red Christmas" in a vintage gl...

Album:  Christmas in 3D Artist:  3D Jazz Trio Label:  DIVA Jazz Website:  www.3divasjazztrio.com The 3D Jazz Trio swing, samba, shimmy, scoot, and sprint through a selection of holiday favorites on their new recording Christmas in 3D .  Comprised of Jackie Warren on piano, Sherrie Maricle on drums, and Amy Shook on bass and fiddle, 3D Jazz Trio's kinetic rapport brings the party to their listeners with Maricle's signature drum splashing, Warren's nimble fingers articulating each curve in the tracks, and Shook's melodic sensibilities for fun-loving bop. The 3 Divas Jazz Trio show a luster in their playing that enlivens the holiday spirit.  Their smooth shuffling coasting along "Silent Night"  infuses a cool jazz swagger with a bourbon-brewed cheerfulness.  The soft tone of Warren's doodles on the piano articulate a clarion shimmer across "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," as Shook's subtle bass notes finesse the track to a buttery sheen...